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Sciences 
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CIH^VI/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collectidn  de 
rriicrofiches.  . 


Canadian  Institute  fbr  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 

(  -.■■--- 


^ 


Technical,  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 

• .  ,  .  .... 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique,  >> 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproductton,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are^^checked  below; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'ii  lui  a  6ti  possible  de  se  pro.curer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  ur^e 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous.  ', 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

□ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvelture  de  couleur 

t 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/<or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/  " 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire)  ■ 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'au.tres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/      n 

Lareliure  serrAe  peut  cailsar  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  |de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  cartaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmAes. 


ji®» 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

n    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculies 


y 


y 


□ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolories,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  inigale  de  ('impression 


□    Includes  supplerhentary  material/ 
•  Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

•» 

□    Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been -ref ilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  6u  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etct.  ont  6ti  filmies  ii  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commpntaires  supplAmentaires; 


-% 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fllmA  au  taux  de  rAdu^J|pn>indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  i^^ax  22X 


y 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  bean  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of:       « 

Seminary  of  Quebec 
Library 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
gin^rositi  de: 

v^       Siminaire  de  Quebec 
Bibliothique 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  .the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les'images  suiv^ntes  onLitA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  l'exemplaire  filmic  et  en   «     ^ 
c6nfdirmit6  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  lllustrafiBd  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are- filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending,  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dontla  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filrrjAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  cornporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustratien,  soit  par  le- second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tousiis  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  %ont  filmis  en  comment  ant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  ernpreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  la, 
cas:  le  symbole  — *>  signifie  "A  SU1VRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning,  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  tie 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux.-^tc,  peuvent  Atre 
film4s  6  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  h  drdite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  ndmbre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


■1  ,*" 

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"  In  the  imiiie  of  J.-siia  every  knee  should  bow  of  those  that  are  in  heaven, 
on  earth,  and  under  the  earth."— Phiu  li,  10. 


,h    ^       ^M^ J- 


c^-Sf 


Frvm  the  Original  of  Rev,  L.  C.  Businger, 
Rev.  RICHARD   BRENNAN,    LL.D, 


TOr.RT«KK    WITH    A    SKKTCH    OF   THII 


JOHN  (ilLHARY  SHEA,  I.LD. 


'  Now  York,  CIncinnall,  and  St.  Louis 
BeNZIGER    BROTHERS] 

Prinlorj  to  the  Holy  Apostolic  See. 


— 3^sr- 


^^' 


imattir. 


,;.  ■;•  JpjN,  Cardinal  McCloske  y, 


Archbishop  of  New  Yonk. 


/v 


Copyright,  1881,  by  Bbnziger  Brothrrs. 


-fe 


o» 


\ 


dppzo^tioi^/y. 


This  book,  in  my  judgment,  is  well  adapted  for  the  use  of  Schools, 
and  is  calculated  to,  impress  upon  youthful  minds  a  knowledge  of  the  ' 
salient  points  of  Ecclesiastical  History,  and  a  profound- reverence  for 
the  champions  of  the  faith  who  in  every  age  have  illustrated  the 
Church  by  their  heroism,  their  learning,  and  their  Apostolic  lives. 
Mr.  Shea's  Supplementary^  History  will  not  fail  to  inspire  the  young 
student  with  an  increased  admiration  for  the  pioneers  of  the  faith  in 
our  own  country,  and  a  greater  love  for  our  holy  religion,  which  has 
fostered  such  noble  characters. 

•h  ] AMES  GiRBOHS,  A rcA6is/wp  o/Ba/iif/iore. 

This  book  is  a  compendium  of  most  useful  information  for  Cath- 
olics in  general,  comprising  as  it  does  in  brief  compass  and  admirable 
plan  the  variform  life  of  the  Church  in  history,  in  dogma,  and  moral 
teachings,  in  sacraments,  in  liturgy,  in  hierarchy  and  religious  orders, 
irt  saints  and  holy  doctors,  in  arts  and  science,  in  persecutions  and 
trials  and  in  triumphs,  showing  in  all  these  the.  presence  and  workings 
of  Christ  and  the  Holy  Spirit  in  and  with  the  Church.  The  work  is 
a  valuable  addition  to  our  English  Catholic  literature. 

+  THOMAS  L.  Grace,  Jiis/io/i  of  St.  Paul. 

I  hope  this  useful  and  excellent  work  will  have  a  wide  circulation. 

+  J.  Sweeney,  Bishop  of  Si.  John,  N.  B. 

"CliRisT  IN  His  Church"  is  indeed  an  appropriate  title  of  your 

"Church  History  translated  by  the  gifted  Dr.  Brennan  from  the  original 

of  the  Rev.  L.  C.  Businger,  author  of  the  exquisite  "  Life  of  Christ." 

the   perusal    of  your  History  is   sufficient  to  convince  any 

,  injpartial  reader  that  the  Catholic  Church  is  a  divine  institution    and 

the  only  on-e  which  fulfils  and  verifies  the  words  of  Christ,  "The  gates 

of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it."  '  ^ 

•,  '  '^^-  O'Co-n^mA.,  Bishop  of  Grass  Valley. 

I  beg  to  thank  you  for  the  copy  o\  the  work  "Christ  in  His 
Church,"  with  which  yoy  have  favored  me.  I  find  it  an  excellent 
work  of  Its  kind,  presenting  the  facts  of  Church  history  in  a  clear, 
concjse,  and  y^^  comprehensive  manner.  It  is  an  interesting  edify' 
ing,  and  instrucl^ve  bo^k,  admirably  adapted  for  the  use  of  Cath- 
olic families  and  as  a  prize-book  for  our  Colleges  and  Convents  I 
wish  It  an  extensik  circulation.     +  John  Walsh,  Bishop  of  London. 

An  admirable   Compendium   of   Ecclesiastical   History.      The 

second  part  containiW  a  clear  and  ccincise  History  of  the  Church  in 
this  country,  must  reader  the, work  of  great  interest  and  value  to 
American  Catholic  readWs.  '    +  T.   Mullen,  Bishop  of  EHe. 

I  am  pleased  to  see  the  work  of  Fr.  Businger  in'  an  English  dress. 
It  is  a  valuable  addition  to  our  English  Catholic  literature.  I 
need  hardly  add  that  the  "  H istory  of  the  Church  in  America,"  by 
John  Gilmary  Shea,  which  you  published  with  Rev.  Fr.  Brennan "s 
translation  of  the  above  work,  must  make  the  volume  doubly  accepta- 
t)le  to  American  Catholics  and  doubly  valuable,  especially  to  the  risine 
generations.  "  •*•  S.  V.   K^ an.  Bishop  of  Buffalo. 


us  in  a^  English  dr.t°'SeTeleb'r;,eTl"or  ^"'^1°!?  ^l  ?'"'"^ 
Christ    in    His  Chvkcu  "     xk.v   r'  .u  i-    v..      •  ^- ^- ^"s'"&er, 

received  with  such  enthusiasm  bT  the  S  h°r'   ^^^''^    ^'''%'y  ^^« 

•but  add  our  humble  annrn^i     ^  the  Cathohc  press,  that  we  can 
olic  household.    lUsThf  bS  for'the  perpir^'""'  '"  ^^^''^^  ^^^^- 

+  Francis  Mora.  BuAop  of  Monterey  and  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 
Fr.  Businger's  name  as  the  author,  and  Fr   Brennan',  ««=  \i,„  , 
^^t^^^^S^St::^^^'^?^  and^TiKrllo  ^^B^p 
in  this  country      ItTs  short   but  ron^J-  '"^^.^ll^"  ^  ^""'^^  circulatioS 
as  instructive  as  it  is  edifyJn^'.  ^*"''  *"  ^'^'^  essentials,  and  is 

+  Rupert  SfiDENBusH.  O.  S.  B.,  Bishop 

Church  which  in  lime  of  persecution  and  1        ^       •^''^  ^'°"*^  '"  ^ 
of  God>*  persecution  and  peace  is  evidently  the  work 

-     ^  .,  "^  ^  •  i^"^^^^^.  Bishop  of  Natchez 

and  illustrationJt  m.v  com  ",.  are  known      In  ,ype,  arrangement, 
by,.he  be.  ^.l^%'i^r-Zl:7X,'-  ""'  ""  '■'.'''""'^ 


J- 


M- 


M<^.'i 


•H-. 


PPtEFACE.. 


,  Any  history  of  tlio  Ciitholic  Church,  if  impartially 
and  truthfully  presented,  forms  one  of  the  best  and  most 
striking  human  evidences  of  its  divine  excellence.  When, 
Pilate  would  offer  to  the  unbelieving  Jews  a  demonstrar 
tion  of  tlrfe  innocence  of  Jesus,  he  simply. poiijted  to  the 
suffering  Saviour  and  said,  ''Ecce  Homo"— "^ lipoid  the 
.Man."  ■  .  ■•* 

In  venturing  to  present  to  the  Catholic  readers  of  this 
country  an  English  translation  of  Father  liusinger's 
a(iniirable  Chiirgh  History,  I  would  i?imi)ly  say;  Behold 
the  Catholic  Church  and  you  behold  Hito  Church  which 
Christ  established,  for  in  every  page  of  its  history  yoa 
'  Behold  the  Man,'  the  Son  of  God,  livinVund  acting  in 
that  Church,  and  giving  constant  and  uijffailing  evidence 
of  its  divine  origin  and  Supernatural  life  lipon  earth. 

We  would  have  but  ^g^ery  crude  and  unworthy  per- 
c-eption  of  the  Incarnato^ln  of  God  we're  we  to  imagine 
Ilim  to  have  been  a  merely  iiistorical  personage,  who 
seemed  to  lay  the  foundation  of  His  Church,  then  as- 
cended to  the  right  hand  of  His  Father,  leaving  that 
Church  without  a  guide  or  protector. 

In  His  divine  wisdom,  he  made  His  work  of  Redemp- 
tion perpetual.  And  it  is  perpetual  in  this  sense,  that  it 
is  to  extend  to  generations  that  did  not  exist  at  or  before 
His  coming. 

If  it  is  said  that  this  satisfaction  for  the  sins  of  the 
world  was  consummated  and  completed  on  Mount  Gal- 
vary,  how  would  that  benefit  the  generations  that  have 
passed  over  the  earth  ever  since  that  hour  of  divint?  al»ne- 


■!> 


VI 


PREFACE. 


ment  ?  What  would  it  avail  us,  who  were  not  born  ? 
How  would  its  ttierits  reach  o^r  sinful  souls  ?  For,  be- 
fore we  could  be  redeemed  b/the  Son  of  God,  we  must 
have  an  existence.  '  '     "" 

There  are  two  modes  given.     One  is  to  suppose— and, 
though   a  dismal,  an   awful  supposition,  it  has  gained 
credit— that  God  had,  by  an  unchangeable  decree,  deter- 
mined all  through  eternity  that  certain  persons  only  should 
have  the  benefit  of  Redemption.     But  this  never  entered 
into  the  message  which  the  Apostles  were  to  carry  to  man- 
kind.     On    the  contrary,   they  taught,   as  Christ    had 
taught  tlwm,  that  he  would  be  with  them  aU  days,  even 
to  the  consummation  of  the  world  :  not  indeed  physically, 
as  during  his  mortal  life  ;  nor  yet  typically,  as  under  the 
Old.  Dispensation;  but  that  He  would  be" present  in  His 
Church  truly,  mystically,  and  actively.      He  was  to  be,  as 
it  were,  the  vital  principle  of  that  Church;  which,  like 
the  human  body  in  its  dependance  on  the  human  soul,  was 
to  be  the  medium  or  channel  of  applying  to  the  souls  of 
men  during  all  ages  the  benefits  of  the  atoning  sacrifice  on 
Calvary. 

He  is  mystically  and  efficaciously  present  in  each  and 
all  of  her  Se\  en  Sacraments. 

Indeed  we  can  nowhere  discover  that  Christ  has  for- 
saken His  Church.  He'is  the  guardian  of  her  truth,  the 
guide  of  her  counsel,  the  perpetuator  of  the  application  to 
the  souls  of  men,  of  the  merits  of  His  atoning  death. 

Some  one  may  preach.  But  that  i-s  external.  The 
grace,  the  inward  grace,  that  accompanies  the  legitimate 
preaching  of  those  whom  Christ  sends,  is  His  special  gift. 
In  that  sense  Christ  is  the  preacher. 

He  appoints  His  ministers  to  govern  *the  Church,  and 
the  successor  of  St.  Peter  is  the  head  of  that  ministry  and 
government.  But  Christ  is  there  as  the  higher  Head.  He 
is  there  to  suggest  and  direct  the  course  best  fitted  for 
the  purpose  which  He  had  in  view,  when  He  became  man 


y 


u  ■  /( 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


and  died  on  the  cross  in  order  to  redeem  that  human 
nature,  and  to  rais©.|^t  from  grovelling  with  its  crimes  in 
the  very  dust  of  the  e^rth,  and-  thus  reconcife  it  and 
reunite  it  to  an  outraged  God.  '  *■  •        > 

This  sublime  purpose, of  Christ  has  always  been  the 
main  object  pursued  by  |the  Church,  ti  is  the  highest 
aspect  and  aim  of  Christianity.  But  Christianity  Iia^  two 
aspects:  one,  partially  described  above,  is  all  divine,  and  A 
'looking  to  God;  contemplating  man,  not  in  his  temporal 
existence,  but  in  the  eternal*state  of  being.  This  is  the 
direct  object  of  the  existence  of  the  Church.  But  it  may 
be  easily  shown  that  th^  Church,  which  appears  to  have 
been  intended  exclusively  for  our  happiness  in  a  future 
life,  is  also  to  serve  for  the  furtherance  and  maintenance 
of  our  well-being  here  below.  •^ 

This  latter  constitutes  the  indirect  effect,  the  temporal 
effect,  the  civil  and  social  aspect  and  influence  of  the 
Church. 

Now  in  this  aspect  also  Christ  is  really  visibly  present. 

Every  event  in  the  world's, history  is  connected  with 
that  ChuJch.  Every  action  of  mi|n  has  been  wrought 
either  for  or, tigainst  it.  The  Church  is  the  good.  Evil" 
exists  only  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  her,  and  is  evil 
only  inasmuch  as  it  opposes  her.  ,  »         -^ 

So  it  was  with  regard  to  Christ.her  founder,  who  in  the  ' 
yiand  of  Judea  entered  the  lists  against  evil  and  iniquity, 
and  from  that  time  till  the  present  day  ha^  kept  up  the  con- 
flict through  the  medium  of  His  Church.  We  do  not  say 
too  much  when  we  assert  that  every  triumph  over  evil  has 
been  won  by  the  Catholic  Church.  All  the  improvemeht 
that  has  taken  place  in  the  social  and  relrgious  condition' 
of  mankind,  ever  since  the  birth  of  the  Saviour^at  BetHle- 
hem,  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  Catholic  Church,  which 
alone  has  received  from  her  Teacher  the  divide  lessons 
which  He  inculcated  in  reference  to  a  brighter  and  better 
world  than  this.     Until  the  appearance  of  Christ  and  His      ' 


I 


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,r 


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vm 


PREFACE. 


,1*. 


'Church,  the  selfishness  of  man  was  his  ruling  hiw  of  action. 
.  He  knew  no  restraint,"  till  the  Chureli  by  word  and  example 
siicceeded  in  instilling  into  his  heart  the  lessons  Of  poverty, 
of  self-denial,  of  bve  of  God,  of  love  for  neighbor  (for  the 
sake  of  God.     "  Whatsoever,"  says  Jesus  CJimt,  "j^  do 
unto  one  of  these  little  ones,  -ye  do  even  unto-me.'*^  Who 
can  estimate-  the'iiiiportance  of  thi^  element,  of  Move  lor 
God  and  neighbor  infused  into  the  human  heart  'i    Tue 
Church  acting  outwardly- through  the  inward  inspirations 
„  of  Christj  her  life  and  jjfr  soul,  makes  eian  love  that|spirib5 
,  of  sacrifice   by  which  the   world's   selflskness'has  been 
abashed  and  abated.    What'==Salamity  to  which  man  may  be 
exposed  has  not  found  ^  remedy  under  the  im])ulso  of. 
/the  teachings  of  the  Church  i^    Have   not  old  ^ge,  once 
so  neglectcii ;   infancy,  once  abandoned    by  its  criminal 
authors;  the  family,  domestic  law^   the  orphan,  the  out- 
cast of  society,  the  soldier  and  the  statesman— have  they 
not  all  felt  the  hallowed  influence  of  Christ's  teachings  as 
reduced  to  practice  by  the  Church?  Yes,  t-lie  law  of  Christ,   ^ 
as  executed  faithfully  and  to  the  letter  in  the  Church   has 
infilsed  that  power  by  which  (when  reading  the  htstory 
of  the  Church)  we  see  man,  and  above  all  woman,  who 
comprehends  this  powe*-  in  all  its  divine  delicacy,  (level- 
ing year  after  year  to  the  service ^of  their  fellow-beings  a 
life  which  in  pagan  times  was  wholly  wsisted  in  the  empty 
•vanities  of  tlie  world,  or  worse.  ■     " 

Christ  is  everywhere  visible  in  t)ie  Church:  whether' 
we  stutiy  the  lives  of  her  apostles,  or  of  her  martyrs,  of 
her  rulers,  her  virgins,  her  members  of  mendicant  Orders, 
her  members  of  societies  for  befriending  little  children! 
weak  old  age,  the. crippled,  the  lame,  the. blind,  the  af-  " 
flicted,  Christ  is  still  living,  teaching  "and  aiding  His 
Church.  ♦  '  ' 

Now,  more  than  ever  before,  perhaps,  should  the  chil-° 
^dren   of  the   Faith  be  made   conversant   with    the  his-  ' 
tory  of  the  om  true   Church.     Th<)ugh  bodi^ '  persecu- - 


J 


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k. 


Of 


PliEFACE. 


ik 


; 


1     .   ■ .  " 

tioii  "IS  not  (lirectea  against  its  membera  as, in  tlio  old^nr 
time,  yet  tbey  and  ilieir  Clmrcli  are  cliai-ged  in  private 
circles,  in  pubfic  assemblies,  in  the  public  press,  aiid^even 
in  the  school  book,  with   iniputatio;is   of   dishonor,  A^ith 
.  calumnies,  with  revilings,  with  slan'dm:s.     Even  .those  whp 
should   be  and   who   are   by  their  office   the   appointed 
guardians  to  regulate  jutjtice,  liavo  attemp'ted  to  invade 
the  riglits  und  libertie^^  of  the" Church  of  Christ.     What  do 
^  the^e  assaults  prov,e?  "'  ThcypYove  that  ordinary  means  wre 
'^  now  recognizgd  aK  insufficient   to  ai/est  the  progress  of" 
•     truth  on  the  rostrum  of  free  discussfon.    The^  prove  that 
there  is  no  way  of  ptitting  down  'this  hated,  teacher  of  t;he 
doctrine  of  the  S^l  of  God,  \^  Ilej)resentative'of  His 
own  presence  but  by 'poisoning  the  minds  of  those  who 
know    nothing  of  her  attributes    aijti  of    her   miijestic 
beauty;  by  poisoning  their  minds  beforehand,  and  malting 
them  beliov^e  tliat  she  is  ilre  enemy  of  tlic  hunnin  kin^l, 
tliat  she  is.tiie  advers'iry  of  all  that  is  epli^htened  or  grand  . 
in  q^mceptiQO  or  p'erformanco. 

\  In  stiiffyri^  the  history  of  this  Church,  capecialljin  the 
_3peculinr  form-^in  which  it  is  ^bnofly"  but  grai)hically  pre- 
sented bf  Fatlier  Busingcr,  we  find  onr  faith  and  love 
for  her  strengthened  and  intwisified.  We  aa'e  ])leased  and 
edified  at  discovering  how  closely' the  hi'story  of  he;-  long. 
]ife<)f^nigh  two  thoifSand  years  resembles  the  history  of 
the  life  of  her  divine  Founder.  Hers  is  a"  succession  of 
trials  and  of  triumphs.  Hers  is  like  His,  an  everlasting 
petffccnt ion  from  the  hands  of  worldlings,  of  the  enemies 
of  truth;  bttt  from  the  side  of  God  a  perpeimal  triumph.  - 
,^."  The  pre-sent  History  of  the  CBurch  is  far  more  than  sir 
mere  narrative  of  events.  It  is  a  bright  living  picture  of 
Christ  living,  acting,  suffering,- through  the  "medium"  of 
His  Mystical  Bady,  whieh  in  its  turn  acts,  lives,  "and  suf- 
fers  through. jrhel^ves  of  its  members. \      :  .' 

A  history  of  the  Chui-ch,  thus  presented,  ought'to  pro-' 
,.    duc^in  the  h^art  of  thp  -impartial  feade'r  sentiments  sim- 


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^  PREFACE. 

ilar  to  those  awakened  in  the  hearts  of  the  few  followers  of 
Christ  who  were  present  at  tliat  awful  scene  in  Jerusalem 
•when  the  world,  as  represented 'by  the  promiscuous  crowd 
in  Tilate  s  hall,  was  told  to  "  Behold  the  Man  " 

Yes,  behold  Christ's  Church,  as  seen  in  the"  light  of  her 

own  history    and  you  -  Behold  the  Man,"  Jesus  Christ, 

God  himself,  the  author  of  all   good,   whether  temporal 

or.  spiritual,  and  yet  the  recipient  of  all  the 'opposition 

that  can  spring  from  hearts  as  impervious  to  the  true,  the 

„  beautiful,  and  the^bod,-as  were  the  hearts  of  those  who 

•  when  told  to  -Behold  the  Man,"  cried  out,  "Away  with 

■  Hifti;  crucify  Him,  and  give  us  Barabbas." 

The  second  portion  of  this  work  consists  of  a  clear, 
concise,  and  accurate  history  of  the  life  of  the  Clkrch  in 
America.  It  is  fronx  the  able  pen  of  Dr.  Jphn  Gilmary 
bhea,  who,  amid,  the  many  other  labors  of  his  long  and 
industrious  life  has  made  Church  History,  and  especially 
American  .Church  History,  the  object  of  much  careful 
research;  the  fruits  of  which  have  already  appeared  in  his 
learned  and  authentic  works  on  this  and  other  subjects. 

R    R 

St.  Rose's  Rectory,  New  York. 

Feast  -of  the  Seven  Dolors,  1881. 


"J 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE   CHURCH  AND   HER  HISTORY. 


I.  What  the  Church  is. 

"Behold,  I  urn  with  j-ou  all  days,  even  to  the  consummation  of 
lo  world." — Matthew  xxvili.  20. 

TTTllilN  wa  ifad  in  the  Now  Testament  how  our  be- 
»  »  loved  Lord  Jesns  Christ  ''went  about  doing  good  " 
in  the  hind  of  Judea,  preaching  heavenly  truths,  imparting 
saving  grace  to  men  of  good  Avill,  and  infusing  i)eace  into 
the  hearts  of  all,  we  are  apt  to  indulge  in  feelings  of 
regret  that  we  too  dfd  not  live  in^i^^se  happy  days,  that 
we  were  not  permitted  ta  enjoy  Ins  sacred  presence  and 
to  hearken  to  his  voice.     "         ' 

AUhougli,  under  the  guidance  of  the  holy  Evangelists, 
we  may  in  spirit  accompany  the  Redeemer  all  through  his 
earthly  life  froni  Betlileliem  to  Calvary;  although  we  may 
-SCO  him  attesting  and  scaling  his  words  of  truth  and  his 
works  of  ])()V|ccr  and  mercy  by  his  atoning  death  on  the 
cross,  wo  are  apt  to  ask  ourselves:  What  is  Clirist  to  us, 
or  to  all  the  generations  who  have  lived  and  died  during 
the  .long 'lapse  of  time  since  he  dwelt  upon  earth?  No 
one  of  our  generation  has  looked  upon  him  with  corpo- 
real eyes.  No  one  of  us  has  heard  the  words  of  wisdom 
uttered  by  his  sacred  tongue,  or  felt  the  touch  of  his 
blessed,  grace-imparting  hand.  We  have  not  been  per- 
mitted to  stand  with  Mary  and  John  and-Magdalen  under 
the  cross,  nor  to  bo  sprinkled  like  them  with  bis  saving 
bloods     Jla  hu&  ttsetindeU  itir^  biHtvvH;  whI  ttttw^  i»fhr  irr" 


iiiiiiiip 


Mi 

n 


12 


CIIKIST  IN   HIS   CllUIiCII. 


unapproiicliiible  majesty  at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father, 
whilst  Ave  are  hviiig  in  exile  ui)on  earth,  llow  then  can 
we  have  any  share  in  the  truth,  blessings,  and  graces  of 
this  Christ:'' 

Our  qucstiqn  is  a  vain  and  foolish,  one.  If  we  but 
look  with  the  eye  of  faith,  we  shall  soon  and  easily  discover 
that  this  same  Christ,  with  all  the  fulness  of  his  wisdom, 
power,  and  mercy,  is  still  living  in  our  midst,  as  he 
promised  to  do.     "Behold,  I  am  with  you  all  days,  eveu 

\ 


Our  Saviour  appoints  St.  Peter  the  head  of  the  Church. 

to    the   oonsummntion    of   the   world,"  is    the   consoling 
assuranco  that  falls  from  his  own  divine  lips. 

T;ct  IIS  tliorofore  examine  and  study  carefully  the  plan 
ad^^pi,^d  by  our  Saviour  whereby  he  continues  still  to 
dwell  on  onrtli,  forwarding  the  work  of  salvation  in  nil 
lands  and  during  all  time. 

What  method  has  Christ  followed  in  order  to  effect 
this  object? 

lie  delegated  his  threefold  office  and  cluvrgcter — namely. 


ii^ 


WHAT  THE   CnURCn   IS,  13 

his  teaching  office,  Ins  priesthood,  and  his  kingly  authol-ity 
,  —to  a  number  of  chosen  men,  in  union  with  Avhom  lie  con- 
tmues  to,  act  as  Teacher,  Priest,  and  King  to  the  end  of 
time. 

It  was  in  this  threefold  character,  that  Christ  effected 
our  salvation.  He  redeemed  us  as  Teacher,  al  Priest 
vand  as  King:  as  Teacher,  by  preaching  heavenly  wisdom- 
as  Priest,  by  the  atoning  sacrifice  offered  upon  the  cross' 
and  as  King,  by  enacting  and  inculcating  laws  or  com- 
mandments. As  Teacher,  he  rescued  us  from  spiritual 
blindness  by  giving  us  the  truth  of  heaven;  as  divine-' 
human  Priest,  he  redeemed  us  from  the  guilt  of  sin  by 
offering  himself  in  sacrifice  on  Mount  Calvary;  as  God- 
man-king,  he  saved  us,  by  his  maxims  and  commandments, 
from  the  folly  and  wickedness  of  life. 

This  triple  office  he  committed  solemnly  to  a  body  of 
chosen  men,  a  short  time  before  his  departure  from  earth 
This  truth  can  be  plainly  proven  from  holy  Scripture! 
liie  divine  Teacher  sent  forth  his  Apostles  to  preach  to 
all  nations,  to  teach  all  truth  as  he  had  imparted  it  to 
them,  and  to  teach  it  with  the  same  authority  and  infal- 
hble  certainty  as  ho  himself  taught  it  :■ ''He  who  hears 
you  hears  me."  ; 

Our  divine  High-priest,  on  the  eve  of  his  Passion,  in- 
stituted and  offered  uj),  in  a  mysterious  manner  and  by 
anticipation,   the   saving   sacrifice   of   the   cross,   saying- 
"This  is  my  body  which  shall  be  delivered  for  you    tliis 
>s  my  blood  which  shall  be  shed  for  you."     He  comm'itted  . 
to  the  hands  of  the  Apostles  for  all  time  to  come  this  holy 
sacrifice  of  his  body  and  blood,  saying:  "Do  this,"  as- I 
have  just  done,  "  in  comrri'emoration  of  me."     He  gave  to 
the  Ai,ostles  power  to  baptize,  to  forgive  sins,  to  l)less;  in  , 
a  M'ord,  to  so  dispense  graces  in  his  name,  that  these  same 
Apostles  were  able  to  say  later  of  themselves  with  truth, 
and  with    a   consciousness  of   their  power   and    dignity: 
"  Let  a  man  so  account  of  us  as  of  the  mJnisterH  of  Christ- 


Hfli 


imiiiiM 


14 


CIlUlST  IN   IIIS   CHURCH. 


and  tlie   dispensers    of  the   mysteries  of   God"   (1  Cor. 
iv.  1). 

Finally,  our  divine  King  transmitted  his  spiritual 
prerogatives  of  royiiLty  to  the  Apostles,  with  the  words: 
"All  power  is  given. to  me  in  heaven  arid  on  earth.  As 
the  Father  sent  me,  so  I  send  you."  It  was  "by  virtue  of 
this  charge  that  the  Apostles  prescribed  for  all  the  nations 
to  whom  they  i)reached  all  those  la-ws  and  regulations, 
and  established  all  those  institutions,  which  they  deemed 


The  Apostloa  are  appointed  Shepherds  of  the  Flock. 


necessary  for  the  spiritual  welfare,*  or  conducive  to  the 
eterniil  salvation,  of  men. 

iroiico  we  see  clearly  thai  although  Christ  has  returned 
to   heaven,    he  has    not    left    us   ori)hans,    but   has   been 

*Tlu's('  liiws  and  onlinuiiciN  of  the  Apostles  and  tlieir  successors 
appertain  to  spiritual  tliinu:s,  and  not  to  (MvilafTairs  nor  civic  regula- 
tions. If,  therefore,  the  manaf^enient  of  political  aflfairs  has  been 
in  the  hands  of  ecclesiastics  from  time  to  time,  it  was  in  conse- 
(pience  of  divine  providence,  or  on  j,iccount  of  the  confidence  which 
Catholic  princes  and  peoples  reposed  in  their  clergy. 


WHAT  THE   CIlUllCII   IS. 


16 


pleased  to  rcmuin  mystically  with  us,  carrying  on,  through 
his  Ai)ostles  us  his  chosen  instruments,  his  threefold 
office  of  Redeemer  till  th|3  end  of  time.  In  union  with 
St.  Peter,  their  visible  Head,  the  Apostles  were  to  trav- 
erse the  earth,  preaching,  dispensing  graces,  ordaining, 
and  becoming  fishers  of  men,  in  order  to  bring  all  men  to 
a  share  in  the  benefits  of  truth,  grace,  and  salvation 
thrqugh  Christ.  They  were  to  unite  them  to  Jesus  him- 
self in  oneness  of  life,  and  to  join  them  together  in  one 
large  and  glorious  mystical  body,  of  which  Christ  was  to 
be  the  invisible  Head. 

Such  was  the  duty  imposed  by  Christ  on  his  Apostles. 
But  the  Apostles  were  mortal,  and  died,  one  after  the  other, 
during  the  first  century  of  Christianity,  whilst  the  three- 
fold office  of  teacher,  priest,  and  ruler  committed  to  them 
by  Christ  should  endure  till  the  end  of  time.  Hence  it 
is  clear  that  when  the  divine  Founder  of  our  Church  im- 
l)artcd  this  threefold  power  to  his  Ajjostles  in  order  to 
l)crpetuate  his  Church,  he  meant  not  only  tbc  twelve 
men  standing  tliero  and  then  in  his  presence.  His 
divine  ga/e  extended  to  all  their  lawful  successors,  tlie 
Popes,  bi«h()i)s,  and  priests  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
as  if  they  all  stood  in  his  presence  w ben  he  spoke.  In 
tliis  sense  it  was  ihd  he  said  totliem  all:  "  IJo,  I  ain  with 
you  all  days,  even  to  the  consummation  of  the  world." 

The  Apostles,  therefore,  and  their  legitimate  suocessora 
are  the  persons  to  whom  Clirist  entrusted  the  duty  of 
forming  in  his  mime,  anuuig'all  nations  and  in  all  ages, 
a  holy  community  or  spiritual  society;  or,  rather,  of'^ex- 
iending  and  strengthening  the  original  society  established 
by  himself. 

This   spiritual    society,   consisting   originally    of    the 

Apostles,  discii)les,  and  a  few  devout    believers,    became 

like  the  mustard-seed  of  (Ju>  parable,  a  great  tree  whoso 

branches  were  s]u'ead  over  all  the  earth.      And  this  is  the 

.univorsttl^iL^;4}H4io  f^hTfrdr^-tft %tnclT ^f^ rffH^r^JT^^ 


■i 


16 


CHRIST  IN  HIS  cnyKCH. 


4' 


instrumentality  of  his  Apostles  and  their  successors,  per- 
petuates forever  his  work  of  salvation  and  applies  it  to 
each  individual  soul.     His  truth,    his  saving  grace,    his 
redeeming  sacrifice,  all  his  merits  as  God-man  from  his 
birth  to  his  death-^these  are  the  glorious  treasures  of  this 
society,  tJie  riches  of   that   grand  corporation   in  which 
each  member,  who  has  been  duly  admitted  by  baptism,  has 
a  right  to  participate.     Therefore,  when  we  speak  of  the 
Church  we  understand  that  holy  society  in  which  Jesus 
Christ  exercises  throughout  all  ages,  by  the  instrumental- 
ity of  the  Apostles    and  their  successors,  the  bishops  and 
priests,  his  threefold  office  of  Teacher,  Priest,  and  King. 

If  the  Church  were   a. mere   association   of    persons 
holding  the  same  tenets,  differing  in  no  way  from  any  other 
human  society,  It  would  not  be  the  -  mysterium  fidei,"or 
the  mystical  body  of  Christians  united  to  Christ      But 
the  Church  embraces,  besides  the  vuihh-ih^i  is  to  say 
the  laity  of  all  nations  and  their  ecclesiastical  authorities 
—also  the  InvisihU  ;  namely,  the  inheritance  of  Christ's 
merits  and  the  merits  of  his  Saints,  the  treasures  of  truth 
and  goodness,  as  well  as  supernatural  guidance.     It  thus 
becomes  a  sublime  mystery  of  faith,  and  hence  the  Chris- 
tian can  truthfully  say,  and  witfr  meaning,  ''I  believe  in 
one  Holy  Catliolic  Church." 


2.   Why  the  Church  is  the  Pillar  and  Ground  of 
Truth.    Why  she  shall  always  continue  such. 

.     "  The  house  of  God,  which  is  the  Church  of  the  living  God   the 
pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth.  "—1  Timothy  iii.  15. 

It  is  beyond  all  doubt  that  our  divine  Founder  en- 
trusted to  the  Apostles  and  their  successors  the  duty  and 
the  p6wer  of  directing  his  holy  Church  in  sanctity  and 
truth  and  of  leading  all  men  into  her  fold.  They  had  a 
very  difficult  and  onerous  difty  to  perform.     T^,  ^^rk 


THE   CllUltCII  THE   PILLAR   OE  TRUTH.  17 

was  far  above  human  strength  and  sagacity,  while  the 
Apostles  themselves,   as    well    as    their    successors,    the 
bishops  and  priests  of  the  Church,  were  mere  men,  liable 
to  death  and  sin,  and  exposed  to  error  and  changes.     How 
could  such  incapable  men  accomplish   this  superhuman 
task?    And  granting  that  the  Apostles  had  been  confirmed 
ill  their  faith,  in  sanctity  of  life,  in  zeal  for  God's  king- 
dom upon   earth,   by  Jesus   Christ   himself,    and   hence 
succeeded  In  preserving  pure  and  unchanged  his  sacred 
legacy  of  truth  and  holiness  among  the  nations  of  their 
times,  how  could  their  successors  in  the  course  of  con-' 
turics  be  expected'to  enjoy  similar  strength  and  holiness  ? 
Whence  were  they  to  draw  it  ?    Alas  !  poor  human  nature 
is  sadly  prou'e-^A^iims,  to  passion,   to  instability  and 
change.     And  will  not  this  corruption  of  human  nature 
so  affect  the  leaders  in  God's  Church  that  in  a  few  years 
after  the  death  of  the  Apostles  the  woi-k  of  Christ  will 
languish,  die,  and  be  forgotten  ? 

How  many  societies  have  been  established  within  the 
lapse  of  eigiiteen  hundred  years,  many  with  the  very  best 
and  most  laudable  ends  in  view;  founded,  too,  in  the 
wisdom  and  experience  of  wise  men,  and  carried  on  with 
prudence  and  sjlgacity  !  Yet  in  the  course  of  time  evil 
crci)t  in,  tbey  chang9d,  became  corrupt,  fell  to  pieces^  and 
have  long  since  been  forgotten  even  in  history.  Will  not  ' 
the  society  of  the  Church  enoounter  a  simihir  fate  ? 

Certainly'^not;  for,  glory,  honor,  and  praise  be  to  God! 
this  society  has  not  only  been  foimded  by  Christ,  but  he 
iufs  moreover  infused  into  it  for  all  time  a  divine  vital 
poiver.  He  iuis  sent  truly  his  own  Holy  Si)irit,  a^^  is 
related  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  in  the  following  words 
of  the  Evangelist  St.  Luke:      ' 

"And  wiien  the  days  of  the  Pentecost  were  accom^ 
plished,  they  were  all  together  in  one  place.     And  sud-    ' 
dcnly  there  came,  a  soui^^l  from  heaven,  as  of  a  mighty 
wiiid  coming^id   it  filkd..thfi.^whafe- 4ieag#  wh^re,they  -- 


18 


CiriUST  IN   HIS   CIIUJJCII. 


r' 


r 


wi-o  sitting.  And  tlicre  appouml' to  them  parted 
tongues  us  it  wero-«f.  fire,- and  it  sat  upon  every  one  of 
tliem.  And  tliey  were  all  tilled  with  the  Holy  (Jjiost,  aiul 
they  began  to  speak  with  diverS  tongues  according  as  the 
Holy  (J host  gave  them  to  si)eak.  JSow  thei*  were  dwell- 
ing at  Jerusalem  Jews,  devout  men,  out  of  every  nation 
II luicr"  heaven.  And  when  this  was  noised  abroad,  the 
multitude  came  together,  and  were  confounded  i4i  mind. 


The  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

because  thiit  every  man  lieard  tltem  si)cak  in  liis  own 
tongue.  And  they  were  all  amazed,  and  wondered,  say- 
ing :  Behold,  are  not  all  these  that  P])eak  Galileans, 
and  how  have  wo  heard  every  man  our  own  tongue 
whei-ein  -wo  were  born  ?  Parthians,  and  Medcs,  atul 
Elamites,  and  inhabitants  of  Mesopotamia,  Judea,  and 
Oappadocia,  Pontns  and  Asia,  riirygia  aiul  Paniphilia, 
Egypt  and  the  parts  of  Libya 'about  Cyrene,  iind  strangers 
J      -' of  Roni-e,  Jews  also,  and  ])roselytes,  Crctes  and  Arabians; 

i  '  • 


THE   CllUliCn   TIIK   PiLLAJi   OF   TliUTIl. 


19 


WO  liiivo  liciird  tlicni  si)euk  in  our  own  tongues  tlio  won- 
derful works  of  God.     And  tliey  were  [ill  astonished,  und 
wondered,   saying  one  to  anJther,  What   meaneth  this? 
But  others  mocking,   said:    These  men   are  full  of  new 
wine.  ^  But  Peter,  standing  up  with  the  eleven,  liftea  up 
his  voice  and  spoke  to  them:  Ye  men  of  Judca,  aiulall 
you  that  dwell  in  Jerusalem,  be  this  known  to  you,  jind 
with  your  ears-^rcceive  my  words;  f(n-  these  are  not  drunk, 
as  you  suppose,  seeing  it  is  but  the  third  hour  of   the 
day.     ]kit  this  is  that  wliich  was  sjjoken  of  by  the  i)r()phet 
Joel:  And  it  shall   come   to  ])ass,  in  the  last  davs  (saiih  . 
the  Lord),  I  will  pour  out  of  my  8i)irit  u])()n  all  llcsJi; 
and  your  sons  aiul  your  daughters    siudl   i)roi)hesy,  and 
your  young  men  sh;ill  see  visions,  and  your  old  meii  shall- 
dream  dreams.     And  u])on  my  servants  indeed,  and  uimui 
my  handmaids,  will  I  pour  out  in  those  day.s  of  my  Sj)irit, 
and  Ihcy  sludl  i)rophesy.      Ye  men  of  J,snu>l,  hear  these 
words:  Jesus  of  Nazaretli,  a  num  approved  of  ({od  among 
you  l)y  miracles  and  wonders  and  signs,  which  God  did 
by  him  in  the  midst  of  you,  as  you  also  know;  tjiis  same, 
being  delivered  up,  by  the  determinate  counsel  and  foiv- 
knowledge  of  God,  you,  by  the   liands  of   wicked   men, 
have  ci'ucified  and   slain.      This  Jesus  JiatJi    (Jod  j-ai>ed 
again,  wliereof  all  wo  are  witnos.«os.      Being  exalted  there- 
fore  by  the   right  haiul  of  God,  and  Inu'lng  received  of 
the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy  (i host,  he  hath  poured 
forth  this  which  you  see  and  hear." 

From  all  this,  wo  can  undi-rsland  why  the  Catholic' 
Clmrch  is  tho^only  one  among  all  the  institutions  ujHJn 
the  earth  that  remains  undiangcd  and  Hinchanoeable; 
why,  with  Jier,  truth  has  lu'vcr  been  adulterated  Or  ob- 
scured, even  in  the  ages  of  darkest  ignoi-anco  in  the 
world;  why  her  saving  gi-accs,  amid  ail  the  corruptimis  of 
men,  hav«  never  been  wc;ikened  nor  diminished.  She 
was  nuule  immortaj  for  all   time  bv  tlio  infusion  of  (Jod's 


^ 


"fl 


i 


r 


20- 


CIIRIST   IN   HIS   CllUliCII. 


the  Holy  Ghost  dwells  really  and  truly  within  her;  that 
bparit  which  renews  the  face  of  the  earth  as  the  Psalmist 
.sings;  that  good  and  comforting  Spirit  mentioned  in  the 
book  of  \yisdom;  that  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  under- 
standing, of  counsel  and  fortitude,  df  knowledgd' and 
piety,  foretold  by  Isaias;  that  Spirit  which  comes  td  aid 
us  in  our  weakness,  as  St.  Paul  writes  to  the  Romans- 
tliat  Spirit  promised  by  Christ  to  his  Apostles,  who  wa^  to' 
"  teach  them  all  things  and  to  lead  them  to  all  truth. 

Since  the  Catiiolic  Church  has  really  received  this  Holy 
Spirit  us  her  own  peculiar  life  and  soul  and  strength  ""the 
personal  faults  andfailures  of  her  visible  rulers  and  leade?s 
can  do  her  no  real  harm. 

Although  some  few  weak,  unli^jppy  priests  may  have 

gone  astray,  although  even  in  remotb  ages  of  the  ChiWch 

bishoi)s  themselves  may  have  fallen  into  error  Lid  false 

opinions,  although  ^a  few  Popes  have   made   lamentable 

mistakes  individually,,  nevertheless  no  general  Council  of 

the  Ghurcli  has  ever  erred,  never  has  any  Pope'wh^en  speak-     • 

ing   officially   contradicted   any  Council  or   any  previous  ^ 

decision  of  his  predecessors  in  the  chair  of  Petfer      Never 

has  any  Pope  uttered  heresy.     The  divine  power,  which 

^  dwells   and    acts   in    the    Church   with   mysterious  and 

miraculous  force  and  wisdom,  is  able  and  knows  how  to 

overcome,  at  all  times,  decay,  error,  and  vice.*  '  '        ; 

m   Christ  did  not  wish  by  any  means  to  extinguish 
and  annihilate  tlie  human  in  the  bosom  of  his  Church. 

V  *  That  such  corruption  may  faint  not  only  laymen,  but  even  ec- 
clesiastics, has  never  been  deqied.  Thus,  in  the  year  152i  at  the 
assembly,  .n  Worms,  of  the  German  princes.  Aleandrl.  th;  papal 
nuncio,  exclaimed  plainly:  "  la  i^ome  itself  there  h^e  been  abuses 
even  among  pre  ates.  Some  of  tfie  earlier  Popes  made  mistakes' 
some  were  culpable,  some  were  even  wicked.  All  this  is  admitted 
no  witli  pride,  but  with  sentiment,  of  humiliation."-  Then  he  adds- 

A«d  yet  this  Rome  it  was  which  a  few  centuries  ago  declared  the 
great  St  Bernard  to  be  a  saint,  al.houjirin  hi,  waitings  he  hud 
rebukediBind  reproved  these  same  vices. " 


\- 


WIIAT   IS   CHUKCH   HISTORY?  21' 

As  ^y  the  sending  of  the  Holy  Ghost  he  diA  not  intend 
to  dispei^se  and  free  the  Heads  of  the  Church  from  the 
duty  of  employing  the  human  means  of  prudence  and  re-- 
flection,  of  study  and  of  worldly  cleverness,  in  order  to^ 
settle  and  fixjrifd  decide  truth,  and  guide  the  Church-  so 
too,  he  did  not  see  fit  to  make  it  impossible  for  any' one 
mdividual  person  to  fall  into  sin  and  error/  But  the  Church 
herself  IS  al way*  intact,  pure,  tameless,  and  immortal,  even  . 
If  some  few  individual  members  peri^li  of  enror  and  wicked- 
ness     She  remains  the  pillar  an^  ground  of  tijith;  asSt 
Paul  styles  her;  and  *lie  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  her.     *  '  t  .        if  cyan 

3.    What  is  Church  History  ?        *        ^ 

' '  In  the  world  you  shall  have  distress  •  but  Itave  confidence  I  hav'e 
overcome  the  world."— John  xvi.  33X  ^«,  1  nave 

0 

As  the  holy  Evangelist  relate  the  life  and  actions  of  Jesus 
Christy  so  does  Church  history  describe  the  life  and  works 
of  his  spouse,  who  is  the  Catholic  Church.  Now  as  JeSus 
Christ  continues  to  live  in  his  Church,  it  follows  that  the 
history  or  description  of  that  Churdi  is  certainly  the  mir- 
rored reflection  oUbe  holy  Evangelists.  The  history  of  our 
divine  Redeemer's  li|,  is  one  of  continued  struggle  and 
suffering.     The  same  is  true  of  the  history  of  his  Church 

tni    r  ^\^^^P75"»  -«d  undeniable  evidence  of  th^ 
truth  of^ur  beloved  Church. 

F^it  as  Christ,  in  the  midst  of  this  o)^osition,  suffering, 
and  contest,  constantly i^manifested  his  glorious  divinity 
^Xt^^':T:  ^"^>'-P^^<^  ovef  death  and  S,' 

ITT^"        1l  ^;^^-^y^d«-^  the.  triumph  of  truth 
and  grace  over  the  dark  powers  of  this  world 

nations    bvTh?'  '""^  ^'"''  r^.r^i^.i.^  himself  to^lL 
nations    by  the    preaching '  of    his  representatives    and 


iefl£ong£ra    iin.1  i;»..,  i^-    ?>u      .        ^^^I'^^sentacives    and 
messengers,  an*  iiw-te^^^nrcTTIpead  througiwut  alT 


<.. '  ^ 


I'f 


4'i 


I     f     i 


il 


I       : 


% 


22 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


jf  theOliristian  missions, 


nations.     This  forms  the 
or  the  growth  of  the  Church. 

2.  It  shows  ho^  Chriat  continues  to  live  in  his  Church 
as  the  Kedeemer  and  High-priest  in  the  holy  sacrifiii^e  of 
the  mass,  in  the  sacraments  and  other  means  of  ^grqipe, 
which  by  a  believing  people  are  surrounded  wj^' 
increasing  solemnity,  heightened  beauty,  an 

,'ceremonies.     This  forms  the  history  of  divito  AKorsnip  in 
the  broad  sen8e  of  the  word.  ^  .   \y^^ 

3.  It  shows  how  Christ  has  ever  liimpl  his  Clmrciiras 
Teacher  of  truth  and  heavenly  wisdom,  by  lejiding  the 
fathers  and  teachers  of  that  Church  into  a  miraculous 
knowledge  of  the  mysteries  o-f  his  kingdom,  by  guiding 
the  Councils  through  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  fey  saving  the 
Popes  from  error  in  their  definitions  of  faith.  Tiiis  forms 
the  history  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Church,  or  of  the  Cotincils.' 

4.  It  shows  how  Christ  has  ever  reigned  in  his  Church 
as^ng,  by  clothing  his  representatives,  the  priests,  ac- 
cwrajng  to  their  various  ranks  with  divine  authority,  and 
by  maintaining  through  their  instrumentality  God's  king- 
dom on  earth  in  discipline,  peace,  and  tranquillity.  This 
forms  the  history  of  the  Hierarchy,  of  Church  rights  and. 
of  Church'  penalties. 

5.  It  shows  how  Christ  has  always  dwelt  in  his  Church  as 
the  Holy  One,  by  leading  bidividuals  to  extraordinary  holi- 
ness, and  creating,  especially  in  the  monastic  life  and  other 
religious  ^ssociations^^qd^e  of  thehighest  virtue  and  evan- 
gel^l  perfection  forjMMM^m  he  caAk  te  holitflss  of  life. 
This  forms  the  hist|mmPMIaints.  aM'^^of  religious  life. 

6.  It  shows  tiow  Christ  has  lived  in  his  Church  as  the 
Despised  One,  inasmuch  as  his  doctrines  have  been  mis- 
represented, denied,  and  rejected  by  misguided  and  wicked 
men  in  all  ages  as  in  his  own  lifetime.  This  forms  the 
history  of  heresy. 

7.  It  shows  how  Christ  has  suffered  in  his  Church  as  thp 
^I'ucifiedj,  masmuch  as  his  ftiithful  followers  individually. 


-\— - 


». 

_,-*»*-' 


-^. 


%. 


TRUTHFUL   RECITALS 


/ 

OF  CHURCH 


23 


HISTOR^ 

ind  hi?  hol}\  Church  in  general,  have  been,  in  private 
and  in  public, Violently  attacked  and  persecuted,  -wronged 
and  misrepresented  by  declared  enemies  and  treacherous 
friends.     This  forms  the  history  of  thejjprsecutioli^-.    ' 

8.  It  shows  how,  finally, 'Christ  has  triumphedin  his 
•  Church  as  the  glorious  Conqueror.  For  the  Church,  even 
in  the  midst  of  her  greatest  trials  and  under  k  verest,op- 
l)rl)ssion,  has  won  victory  after  victory,  triuihph  ••.fter' 
triuijiph;  and  the  miraculous  promise  of  heaven  sh&  be 
fulfilled  for  all  time  as  it  has  been  in  the  past:  "In%his 
sign  of  the' cross  thou  shalt  conquer.^'  This  constitutes 
tUe  history  of  the  triumph  and  glory  of  the  Church. 

Such  are  the  contents  of  Ch'urch  history. 

As  the  Bible  history  of  the  Old  Testament  describes  %. 
us  how  the  human  race  was  prepared  for  the  Bedemptioi. 
and  as  the  Bible  history  of  the  New  Testament  shows  us  how 
the  work  of  thatlledemptioriwj^s  actually  accomplished,  S( 
does  Church  history  describe  that  Redemption  still  going 
forward  and  being  accomplished  in  the  Cliurch.     It, shows 
how  Christ,  even  after  the  lapse  of  centuries  of  time,  is  still 
mysteriously  going  about   among   men,  as  their  invisible 
King  and  Saviour,  and,  in   spite   of  the  efforts   of  the 
powers  of  hell' and  of  wicked  men,  is  drawing  the  elect  to 
himself,  and  sanctifying  and  saving  them-  by  the  interposi- 
tion of  the  Holy  Ghost.  ' '  ' 


,W.. 


4^  Whelice  are  derived  the  Truthfiil  "and  Genuine 
■{         Recitals  of  Church   History  ? 


"<&; 


"Many  have  taken  in  hand  to  set  forth  in-order  a  narration  of 
the  things  that  have  been  accomplished  among  us:  according  as  tliey 
have  delivered  them  unto  us,  who  from  .the  beginning  were  eye-wit- 
nesses and  ministers  of  the  word."— Lu*E  i  12'  % 

The  most  ancient  of  Churcl\  historianj^  is  St.  Luke. 
In  the  A<?tHof  |||t  Apostles- W  describee^ irhorrghr  biTe^r^ 


.,   ^ 


11 


I 


^ 


'   ■    24 


CiMlST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


the  lives  o£  thd  first  Cliristiiius,  the  most  important 
9iVeiitg*m  tire  lU'imitivo  Ciiurch,  as  well  us  the  doings  of 
some^ttf  tl'ie  A])ostlos  and  of  their  disciples.  But  the  real 
father  of  Church  history  is  Eusebius,  bishop  of  Csesarea, 
who  died  about  tiie  year  3-40.'  llis  "  Ten  Books  of  Church 
"History"'  are  of  most  incalculable  value;  for  in  them  he  gives 
.  us  a  (juantity  of  ancient  decrees,  of  lengthy  narrations,  and 
of  decisions  of  Councils  from  tiie  first  three  centuries  of  the 
Church;  all  of  which  but  for  his" caTcrtind  industry  would 
iiave  been  irretrievably  lost.  '  ■  / 

The  works  af  the  great  Churcli  fathers,  who  for  the 
most  part  have  put  into  writing  the  oral' traditions  coming 
down  from  the  first  ages  yf  the  Church,  contain  numerous    . 
well-attested  narrations  of  Cliurcii  history. 

Next  to  these  come  the  chronicles  of -pious  and  learned 
bishops  and  })riests  who,  at  the  time  of  tiie  great  invasion 
of  the  northern  tribes,  from  the  year  350  to  500,  and  also 
in  the  middle  ages,  from  the  time  of  Charlemagne,  about  ,  , 
■  the  year  800,  to  the  sham  reformation  in  1518,  have  sot-' 
forth  the  ecclesiastical  events  of  their  respective  ages  in  a 
creditable  and  credible  manner. 

Besides  these  we  must  count  the  well-jireserved  decisions 
of  the  ancient  Councils  of  the  Churcii,  the  Briefs  of 
roj)ea,  and  the  anticpie  inscriptions  which  have  been 
discovered  and  (kwiphered  on  ecclesiastical  and  archi- 
tectural monuments,  especially  those  discovered  in  the 
Roman  catacombs.  From  all  tiiese  one  may  understand 
how,  (^5;i>«  at  this  late  day,'  wo  possess  })ositiYe  knowledge 
of  the  early  condition  of  the  Church  and  of  events  occur- 
ring in  the  earliest  ages. 

In  modern  times  many  able  and  learned  Catholic  writ- 
ers, from  Baronius  down  to  Stolberg,  Mohler,  Ilefele, 
Alzog,  Rohrbacher,  and  others,  have  undertaken, 4o^  the 
most  part  in  very  comprehensive  works,  to  compile  Church 
histories  chiefiy  based  (fn  and  dniwn  from  these  ancient 
decrees.     Tiicy  have  thereby  merit«'d  the  gratitude  of  tlm     - 


It 

1^  . 


■■'--*., 


^ 


FALSE   CHURCH    HISTORY. 


25 

Catholic  world.  For  by  their  researches  they  have  proved 
that  many  things  written,  by  enemies,  against  the  Popes 
and  other  prominent  persons  in  the  Church  were  misrepre- 
sentations and  calumnies. 

They  have  thus  successfully  vindicated  the  honor  and 
good  name  of  the  Church  against  these  malicious  falsifiers. 


5.  False  Church  History. 

'•There  shall  be  a  ^iine  when  they  will  heap  to  themselves  teach- 
ers havu.g  ,tehi„g  earsX    These  will  turn  away  their  hearing  from 
the  tru  h    but  will  be  turned  tp  fables.     But  avoid  fooliSi  and  old 
•  wives' fable8."—l  and  2  Timothy  4.  "  ' 

In  the' ninth  book  of  his  Church  history,   Eusebius 
relates:  -Under  Maximinus  the  fury  of  the  persecution 
against  us"-that  is  to  say,  the  Cliristians--  was  renewed. 
And  although  he  had  full  power  to  do  as  he  pleased,  hav- 
ing lately  nssumed  (he  dignity  and  authority  of  emperor 
yet  he  wished  to  keep  up  an  appearance  of  acting  upon 
just  grounds.     For  this  purpose  he  caused  to  be  prepared 
certain  '  Acts '  such  as  might  have  been  used  by  Pilate  in 
us  treatment  of  the  Saviou'r.    Into  these  '  Acts'  were  em- 
bodied all  that  could  be  conceived  blasphemous  against 
Clinsl.     Into  all   the  provinces  of  his  kingdom   he  sent 
lu^so  '  Acts,'  with  the  command  that  thev  should  be  dis- 
tributed through  all  the  cities,  villages,  and  hamlets.    The 
school-teachers  were  ordered  to  dictate  them  to  the  chil-  ^W 

(Iren  in  school,  who  had  to  learn  them  by  heart  as  exercises 
lor  the"memory,"  *». 

What  w,is  hero  done  by  Maximinus,  the  persecutor  of 
t  H-  Christians,  has  been  practised  against  the  Church  in 
"11  ages  by  h.s  imitators.     Even  in  very  early  times  hero- 
es  have    endeavored,   with   cunning  "and  "insolence,  to 
falsify  not  only  the  teachings  but  also  the  history  of  the 


biiled  to  thFttut7iontr^fU,o7TlH7rch  follies  aitr^ 


H 


26 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


well  calculated,  if  true,  to  render  the  clergy  both  ridicu- 
lous and  hateful  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 

This  contemptible  mode  of  acting  was  practised  to  a 
great  e^ttent,  more  especially  in  the  latter  part  of  the  mid- 
dle ages,  by  cei'tain  chroniclers  in  the  ])ay  of  governments 
or  kings  who  were  at  variance  with  the  Poi)es.  In  this 
manner  there  accumulated  in  course  of  time  an  immense 
amount  of  spurious,  unreliable,  and  disgraceful  chron- 
icles which,  then  and  during  the  so-called  reformation, 
and  in  the  wars  which  followed,  were  still  further  in- 
creased and  more  widely  diffused.  .^^ 

Superficial  or  evil-minded  writers  .^^d  upon  these 
fables  and,  without  questioning  their.iiistQl|ical  value,  rejjro- 
duced  them  in  their  books.  Althou^fi  in  our  day  these 
falsifiers  of  Church  history  have  been  unmasked  by 
learned  Catholics  and  by  honorable  and  truth-loving  Pro- 
testant writers,  yet  tlijpusauds  of  linsgrupulous  novelists 
continue  to  reproduce  these  fabulous  stories  about  the 
Church,  merely  changing  the  mode  of  expression,  and 
serving  up  the  same  unwholesome  diet  in  a  later  style  of 
preparation.  But  the  same  treatment  must  be  bestowed 
by  the  ononiy  on  the  Church  as  was  bestowed  of  old  on  her 
divine  Founder:  "  For  many  bore  false  witness  against  him, 
and  their  evidence  were  not  agreeing"  (Mark  xiv.  56). 


II 


^^^^^^ 


<3HAPTEE  II. 

THE  HISTORY   OF  THE  CHRISTIAN 
^  MISSIONS. 


CHRIST  IS  MADE  MANIFEST  TO  ALL  NATIONS  BY  THE 
PKEACHING  OF  HIS  MESSENGERS.  HIS  CHURCH  IS  EX- 
TENDED  THROUGHOUT   THE   WORLD. 


6.  The  First  Congregation  at  Jerusalem. 

"  Now,  tlierefore,  O  my  sons,  be  ye  zealous  for  the  law.  Call 
to  remembrance  the  works  of  the  fathers." — 1  MachAhkks  ii.  50. 

CHRIST  chose  St.  Peter  to  be  his  llepresentativo 
and  the  Vi-sible  Head  of  his  Church  mj  earth,  and 
forniully  appointed  liim  with  the  words,  "Thou  art  PeteF' 
(which  means  rock),  **and  on  tliis  rock  I  will  build  my 
Churchy  and  tiie  gates  of  hell"  (that  is  to  say,  the  evil 
jKJwers  of  error  and  vice)  "  shall  not  j)revail  against  it. 
To  thee  I  give  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Feed 
my  lambs.     Feed  my  sheep. " 

In  his  sermon  oq  the  day  of  Pentecost,  addressed  to 
the  multitude  assembled  in  Jerusalem,  8t.  Peter  spoke 
with  such  superiuiturally  effective  powers  of  persuasion 
that  many  accepted  baptism,  and  the  first  Christian  con- 
gregation in  a  short,  time  numbered  live  thousand  mem- 
bers. 

In  the  beginning,  tlie  early  Christians  continued  to 
observe  the  Jewish  rites,  and  used  to  go  at  stated  intervals 
to  the  temple  to  pray.     Soon,  however,  they  began  to  hold 

w«'niirii,fn  rttasoTTililiiiyt^B    for — wi>i'ultii-> — ttL   wbinK    <ln»    A»n>a<.^"" 


'' ' 


■ll 


m 


28 


CHRIST   m   HIS   CHURCH. 


used  to  conduct  divine  service  according  to  the  ordinance 
ot  thnst,  and  to  dispense  the  sacred  mysteries  of  salva- 

/  The  Acts  of  the  Apostles  thus  describe  the  mode  of 
hfe  followed  by  the  members  of  this  first  Christian  conCTe^ 
gation:  ^ 

"  They  were  persevering  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Apostles 
and  in  the  communication  of  the  breaking  of  bread"  (th-it 
IS,  the  holy  mass  and  Communion),  -  and  in  prayers 

"  Many  wonders  also  and  sigiis  were  done  by  the  Apos 
ties  in  Jerusalem. 

"  And  all  they  that  believed  were  together,  and  had  all 
things  common.  «» 

"  Their  possessions  and  goods   tliey  sold  and  divided 
them  to  all,  according  as  every  one  had  need. 

"And  continuing  daily  with  one  accord  in  tl/fcemple 
and  breaking  bread  from  house  to  house,  they  took  their  ' 
meat  with  gladness  and  simplicity  of  heart,  praising  God 
and  having  favor  with  all  the  people.      And  the  Lord 
increased  daily  together  such  as  should  bo  saved  " 

Thus,  during  the  first  years  after  Chnst'«  asceilion 
into  heaven,  the  A])ostles  remained  together  in  Jerusalem 
partly  to  fortify  the  new  Christians  in  their  faith  and  in' 
a  Christian  Mife,  and  to  organize  them  as,  a  model  for 
future  congregations;  i)art]y,  also,  in  order  to  comfort  and 
protect  the  faithful  in  the  persecutions  which  soon  broke 
forth,  and  partly,  too,  in  order  to  encourage  and  fc^rtify 
each  other  by  the  most  confidential  mutual  intercourse 
and  also  to  prepare  each  otiier  for  the  great  work  of  the 
mission. 

For  the  Church  ofl^hristwas  not  to  be  confined  to  tlie 
country  of  the  Jews.  The  day  was  appn,aching  when  the 
Apostles,  in  obedience  to  the  charge  given  them  by  their 
divine  Master,  wore  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  all  nations 
and  to  carry  the  kingdom  of  Cl^rist  to  all  iiarts  of  the 
world. 


f^ 


LIFE  AI^p   MISSION   OF   ST.  .  PETER. 


29 


7.  The  Life  aiid  Mission  of  St.  Peter. 

"The  first:  Simon  who  is  called  Peter.  The  twelve  Jesus  sentj 
saying:  'Behold,  I  seiiTl  you  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves.'" — 
Matthew  x. 

What  a  glorious  army  of  brave  and  self-sacrificing 
spirits  rise  before  our  vision  as  we  enter  upon  the  con- 
templation and  study  of  the  stupendous  growth  of  the 
Cliurch  of  Christ!  At  their  head  march  Peter  and  Paul, 
with  their  immediate  followers,  the  Apostles  and  Evan- 
gelists, to  be  succeeded  century  after  century  by  hosts  of 
holy  bishops,  zealous  priests,  and  devoted  monks,  all 
clipsen  by  God  to  carry  the  light  of  his  Gospel  into  every 
quarter  of  the  globe.  On  the  very  day  of  Pentecost  this 
rapid  diffusion  of  the  truth  began.  For  those  God-fearing 
Jews  who  had  come  from  many  countries,  and  were  then 
sojourning  in  Jerusalem  carried  the  news  about  -Christ 
and  his  Church  back  to  their  own  homes,  and  prepared 
thousands  of  eager  souls  for  the  reception  of  the  Cliristian 
doctrine,  which  the  Apostles,  in  pursuance  of  their  high 
vocation,  would  soon  carry  into  every  city,  town,  and 
hamlet. 

The  most  glorious  of  all  was  the  missionary  life  of  Sfc.^ 
Peter,  the  Prince  of  the  Ai)ostles,  at  whose  first  sermon,  on 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  about  three  thousand  persons  were 
converted  and  enrolled  under  the  banner  of  the  cross. 
And  this  number  was  increased  soon  after  to  five  thou- 
sand, on  the  occasion  of  the  healing  of  the  lame  man  at 
the  gate  of  the  temple  of  Jerusalem.  - 

But  the  Prince  of  the  Apostles,  besides  being  the  first 
to  establish  the  Christian  Church  amid  the  Jews,  had  also 
the  privilege  of  founding  the  first  Christian  congregation 
among  the  Gentiles.  Being  directed  by  Il,eaven  to  scqW 
Coj-neliua,  a  certain  heatlien  centurion,  at  CfBsilrea,  Peter 
Itched  bofofo  tniii  aMTiTs  TTouseTioTdTconcern" 


^^ 


^^^g^^ 


11 

li 

j  ; 

« 

■^  "'   ■  ■ 

>■ 

* 

I  ^ 

r ; 

% 

t^^- 

■  1 

•a      -• 

I;i 

i 

,» 

r; 


Ir 


30 


CIIKIST   IN    Ills    CHURCH. 


ing  the  death  and  I'e.surrectioii  of  Christ.  The  Holy  Ghost 
came  down  u])on  all  those  who  were  listening  to  the 
Apostle's  inspired  words,  and  they  were  converted  and 
haptized  by  Peter.  Tims  he  to  whom  the  keys  of^the 
kingdom  of  heaven  liad  been  given  was  the  first  to  open 
the  doors  of  God's  kingdom  u])on  earth  to  the  pag'an 
world.  We  tind  him  soon  after  presiding  as  first  bishop 
over  the  lirst  large  congregation  of  converted  heathens  in 
the  city  of  Antioch,  where  the  disciples  and  followers  of 


Sts.  PetfT  and  Paul  in  Prison. 

Christ  were  firKt  called  Ciiristians.  Later  we  discover  this 
fisherman  of  Calilee,  whom  the  Tiord  had  mauked  out  to 
be  the  head  of  his  Church,  travelling  incessantly  through 
Judea,  Galilee,  Samaria,  Asia  Minor,  Italy,  and  other 
l)lac'es;  everywhere  diligently  casting  his  net  to  bring  the 
6ouls  of  Jews  and  Gent.ilos  into  the  knowledge  of  Christ 
ci-ucified.  His  most  important  mission,  however,  was  to 
the  imi)erial  city  of  i^ome,  where,  by  divine  dispensation, 
=^^  was  4e^  e^tablinh  iW  <i€nti'G  ^  4}«»  €hri^tiaa-C4} u i^lu 


LIFE   AND   MISSION   OF   ST.    PETER. 


31 


This  proud  i)agan  capital,  hitherto  the  seat  of  corrupt 
though  refined  .sui)erstition,  was  henceforth  to  be  a  beacon- 
liglit  of  i)ure  Cliristian  faith  and  piety.  The  peaceful 
throne  of  the  Prince  of  the  Apostles  was  soon  to  rise  on 
the  ruins  of  tlie  blood-stained'  throne  of  the  emperors  of 
th6  world.     Tradition  assures  us  'that  St.  Peter  governed 


The  CiTiciflxion  of  St.  Peter. 


the  Church  at  Rome  for  twenty-live  vears^^from  the  year 
42  till  tho  year  07  after  the  birth  of  CJrist ;  although 
during  this  time  ho  went  frequently  to  i)resch  the  Gospel 
in  other  lands,  aiul  to  visit  the  newly  established  Christian 


32 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


I 


»i.i 


of  Christ,  he  sealed  his  faith  and  mission  with  his  blood 
on  the  hill  of  Janiciilus  in  the  city  of  Rome;  and  the 
prophetic  words  of  Christ  concerning  the  Chief  of  the 
Apostles  were  fulfilled:  ''  When  thtni  shalt  be  old,  thou 
shalt  stretch  forth  thy  hands,  and  another  shall  gird  thee: 
Follow  me"  (John  xxi.). 

The  executioners  of  the  cruel  Nero  "  girded "  the 
gray-haired  man  of  God  with  bands,  and  fastened  him  to 
a  cross,  as  had  been  done  thirty-three  years  before  to  his 
divine  Master.  Willingly,  and  even  cheerfully,  the  faith- 
ful Apostle  stretched  out  his  arms  upon  the  cross,  only 
too  happy  to  be  permitted  to  imitate  his  Master  even  in 
death.  Yet,  deeming  himself  unworthy  the  privilege  of 
dying  in  thfe  same  posture  as  Jesus,  he. begged  his  execu- 
tioners to  permit  him  to  be  crucified  with  his  head  dlvvn- 
ward. 

The  martyred  Apostle's  body  was  laid  in  the  Vatican 
catacombs,  near  Nero's  circus. 


8.  The  Conversion  of  St.  Paul. 

"He  who  persecuted  us  in  times  past  dotii  now  preacli  tlie  faith 
which  once  lie  impugued."— Galatians  i.  23. 

Intimately  associated  and  closely  identified  with  the 
glorious  name  of  Peter  is  the  ho^iored  name  of  Pauh 
This  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  who  is  also  sometimes 
called  Saul,  is  the  one  of  whom  Christ  himself  bore  testi- 
mony when  he  said:  "He  is  a  vessel  of  election  to  carry 
my  name  before  kings,  to  the  Gentiles,  and  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel." 

Trained  in  the  schools  of  the  Pharisees,  he  was  at  first 
a  violent  enemy  of  the  Christian  religion,  ancUhad  ob- 
tained letters  from  the  high-priest  in  Jerusalem  authoriz- 
ing him  to  search  for  the  Cliristians  living  in  Damascus, 
and  tn  bring  them  befoi'o  tlio  .TowiRli  -fjrvuiita  ^  tt^  «m»«  nn 


CONVERSION   OF   ST.    PAUL. 


33 


his  way  to  put  these  desigu.s  into  execution,  when  a  ray  of 
God's  grace  struck  iiiin.  ''^'And  as  he  went  on  his  jour- 
ney, it  came  to  pass  that  he  drew  nigh  to  Damascus';  and 
suddenly  a  light  from  heaven  shined  round  about  him. 
And  falling  on  the  ground,  he  heard  a  voice  saying  to 
Iwm:  ttaul,  Saul,  why  perseculest  thou  me?  VVho  said: 
Who  art  thou,  Lord?  And'  he:  1  am  Jesus,  whom  thou 
persecutest;  it  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick  against  the  goad. 
And  he,  trembling  and  astonished,  said:  Lord,  what  wilt 


Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  mef" 


thou  have  me  to  do?  And  tlu^  Lord  said  to  hfVn:  Arise 
and  go  into  the  city,  ami  there  it  shall  be  told  thee  what 
tliou  must  do.  Now  the  men  who  went  in  company  with 
him  stood  amazed,  hearing  indeed  a  voice,  l)ut  seeing  no 
man.  And  Saul  arose  from  ijie  ground,  and  when  liis 
eyes  were  o])ened  he  saw  n'othing"  (Acts  ix.). 

'   Paul   remained    three   days   in    Damascifs,   blind   and 
without  foott,  atilt  cryfiTg  TT)  file  I^orriFom^iliriniiiosr 


■Ms 


"•di 


34 


CHRIST   IN 'HIS   CHURCH. 


depths  of  his  soul  for  mercy  and  pardon. "  On  the  third 
day  God  sent  Ananias,  wliom  many  suppose  to  be  one 
of  the  seventy-two  disciples,  to  Paul,  to  say  to  him: 
*' Brother  Saul,  the  Lord  Jesus  hath  sent  me,  he  that 
appeared  to  thee  in  the  way,  that  thou  mayest  receive  thy 
sight  and  fefe  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost"  (Acts  ix.  17). 
And  immediately  Sa\il  recovered  his  sight,  stood  up,  and 
received  baptism. 

With  what  astonishment  and  chagrin  , the  Jews  in 
Damascus  looked  upon  this  ojfce  bigoted  Pharisee  and 
bitter  foe  of  Christianity,  as  fjie  went  into  theiz'  syna- 
gogue, a^d  with  superhuman  (^*?{^ience  preached  that  the 
crucified  Nazarite  was  the  vcri-table  Messias!  Rb  very 
soon  left  their  city,  however,  and  retired  into  the  solitudes 
of  the  Arabian  desert8,'in  order  more  freely  to  prepare 
himself  for  his  high  duties  of  an  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles. 


9.  The  Missionary  Labors  of  St.  Paul. 

"  I  am  appointed  a  preacher  and  an  apostle,  a  doctor  of  the  Gen- 
tiles in  faith  and  truth." — 1  Timothy  ii.  7. 

St.  Paul  set  out  on  his  first  great  mission  iln  the  year 
45,  starting  from  Antioch,  and  accompanied  by  St.  Mark 
and  St.  Barnabas.  This  expedition  consumed  more  than 
four  years,  and  coyered  a  vast  extent  of  territory  by  sea 
aM  land.  During  this  mission  he  established  Christian 
churches  in  the  island  of.  Cyprus  and  in  many  cities  and 
viHttges  of  Asia  Minor;  and  witb  prayer  and  laying  on  of 
hands  ordained  priests  and  bishops  to  instruct  and  gov- 
ern the  new  congregations. 

'  St.  Luke  the  Evangelist  gives  us,  in  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  a  remarkable  example  of  the  struggles  and 
varied  experiences/tf  this  indefatigable  Apostle: 

**And  the  ^^miltitude  of  the  city  was  divided;  and 
somejif  th<^gi  indeed  held  witli  the  Jews,  but  some  witk. 


M 


b 


v_ 


^ 


f 


m 


I 


M*SSlOI|ifARY   LABORS   OF   ST.   PAUL. 


'36 


the  Apostles.  .  Aitd  when  therelvas  an  assa^yilt  made  by  .the 
Gentiles  ai^d  the  Jews  with  their  rulers,  to  use  them  con 
tumeliously,  iUK^j  to  stone  them,  they,  understanding  it, 
fled  to  Lystra  and  Derbe,  cities  of  Lycaonia,  and  to  the 
whole  country  round  about,  fincfeiwere  there  preaching  the 
Gospel.  And  there  sat  a  certain  man  at  Lystra  impotent 
in  his  feet,  a  cripple  from  his  mother's  womb,  who*never 
had  walked.  This  same  heard  Paul  speaki{ig;  who  look- 
ing upon  him,  and  seeing  that  he  had  faith  to  be  healed, 
said  with  a  loud  voice:  Stand  upright  oA  thy  feet.  And 
he  leaped  up  and  walked.  .  Aiid  when  the  multitudes  had 
seen  what  Paul  had  done,  th(^  lifted  up  their  voice  in  the 
Lycaonian  tongue,  saying:  The  gods  are  come  down  to 
us,  in  the  likeness  of  me'fi.  And  ,they  called  Barnabas, 
Jupiter;  but  Paul,  Mercury;  becatise  hcAv^as  chief  speaker. 
"The  priest  also  of  Jupiter,  thafwas  before  the  city, 
bringing  oxen  and  garlands  before  the  gate,  w'puld  ^iiavo 
offered  sacrifice  with  the  people;  whiclvwjien  the  Apostl^ 
Barnabas  and  Paul  had  heard,  rending  their  clothes,,  they 
lca})ed  out  among  the  peoi)le,  crying  arid  sayi-ng;  Ye  men, 
why  do  ye  these  things?  We  also  are  mortals,  men  like 
unto  you,  preaching  to  you  to  be  converted  from  these 
vain  things  to  the  living  God,  who  mad'e  the  tieaV^n,  and 
the  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  all  things  that  are  in^them. 
And  speaking  these  things,  they  scarce  restrained  the 
people  from  sacrificing  to  them.  Now  there  came  thither 
certain  Jews  from  Antioch  and  Iconium,  and  persuading 
the  multitude,  and  stoning  Paul,  drew'  him  out  pf  the 
city,  thinking  him  to  be  d'ead.  But  as  the  disciples  sib^d 
round  about  him,  he  rose  up  and  entered  into  th^ctty,. 
and  the  next  day  he  departed  with  Barnabas  to  Dei'be." 

About  the  year  51  we  meet  St.  Paul  at  the  council  of,, 

the  Apostles  in  Jerusalem,  whence  he  set  out  soon  after  on- 

his  second  great  missionary  voyage  to  Asia  Minor,  Mace-' 

donia,  and  Greece.      His  visit   to  Athens   was  specially 

4mjK>rtant^  where  he  thus  addressed  the  faighty  educated  ~~ 


ill' 

■a 


l«:?i 


36 


CitRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


the    liighe.st  court,  called   the 


and  learned  members  of 
Areopagus:  * 

"But  Paul,  standing  in  the  midsi  of  Areopagus,  said: 
Ye  men 'of  Athens,  I  ])erceive  that  in  all  things  you  are 
too  superstitious.     For  passing  by  and  seeing  your  idols, 
I  found  ^an  altar  on  which  was  written:  To  the  unknown 
God.     What  there^)re^yoti  woVship,  without  knowing  it, 
that  I  iwach  to  you.     God,  who  made  the  world  and  all 
things    therein,   he   being   Lord   of    heaven    and    earth, 
dwelleth  not  in  temi)les  made  with  hands;  neither  is  he 
served  with  men's  hands,  as  though  he  needed  anything, 
seeing  it  is  he  who  giveth  to  all  life,  and  breath,  and'  all 
things,  and  hath  made  of  one  all  mankind,  to  d\\^ell  upon 
the  whole  face  of  the  earth,  determining  appointed  times 
and  the  limits  of  their  habitation;  that  they  should  seek 
God,    if  happily  they  may  feel  after  him  "or  find  him, 
although  he  be  not  far  from  every  one  of  us.      For  in 
him  we  live,  and  move,  and  are.     As  some  also  of  your 
own  poets  said:   For  we  are  also    his  offspring.     Being, 
therefore,  the  offspring  of  God,  we  must  not  suppose  the 
divinity  to  be  like  unto  gold,  or  silver,  or  stone,  the  gi-av- 
ing  of  art  and  device  of  man.     And  God  indeed,  having 
winked  at  the  times  of  this  ignorance,  now  deciareth  unto 
men  that  all  should  everywhere  do  penance.     Because  he 
hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
Equity,  by  the  man  whom  he  haih  appointed,  giving  faith 
to  all,  by  raising  him  up  from  the  dead." 

On  hearing  mention  made  of  the  Resurrection,  most 
of  the  Athenians  began  to  sneer  and  to  laugl^'  Some, 
however,  agreed  with  Paul  and*  believed  ;  among  others', 
Dionysius,  a  celebrated  and  respected  member  of  the 
Areopagus. 

This  second  voyage  of  Paul  consumed  about  two  years, 

and  extended  over  a  distance  of  more  than  d  thousand 

leagues.     On  his  third   missionary  voyage,  lasting  from 

^he  year  54  to  the  year  58,  St.  Paul  tai-ried  a  long  time 


t 


»       ' 


nsDiUja         ,x  ■; 


^ST.  TFAtrt  PREACHTNG  AT   EPHESUS. 


37 


38 


CHRIST  IN   HIS  CHURCH. 


m  ^Ephesus,  a  city  of  Asia  Minor,  where  his  new  converts 
gave  touching  and  instructive  evidence  of  their  strong 
Christian  feeling.  In  that  city  fortune-telling  and  magic 
prevailed  to  a  great  extent,  and  the  people  had  squan- 
dered large  sums  of  money  in  the  purchase  of  books  which 
treated  of  these  diabolical  arts.  But  after  Piuil  had 
preached  with  great  .eloquence  and  pow(5r  on  the  one  true 
God,  the  people,  entering  into  themselves  and  discovering 
their  errors,  brought  out  all  their  books  of  magic,  to  tlie 
value  of  about  50,000  silver  drachmas  or  about  six  thousand 
dollars,  and  burnt  them  to  ashes  in  the  public  square. 
Would  that  Christians  of  our  day  might  adopt  a  similar 
plan  to  rid  society  of  many  of  the  worthless,  dangerous,  and 
immoral  books  and  newspapers  with  which  we  are  deluged! 
From  Ephesus  St.  Paul  journeyed  into  Macedonia, 
Illyria,  and  Greece,  and  returned  finally  to  Jerusalem,  after 
having  traversed  a  distance  of  more  tlian  twelve  hundred 
leagues,  and  gathered  in  abundant  harvests  for  Christ. 


10.  Imprisonment  and  Execution  of  St.  Paul. 

"  To  me,  to  live  is  Christ,. and  to  die  is  gain:  having  a  desire  to 
be  dissolved  and  to  bo  with  Christ.  "—Puilippianb  i.  21,  23 

The  public  feeling  of  the  Jews  in  Jerusalem  against 
St.  Paul  was  again  aroused  to  such  a  height  tliat  he  was 
sent  in  chains  to  Ca^sarea,  where  ho  passed  two  yenrs  in 
confinement.  As  ho  had  but  little  hope  of  gaining  his 
freedom,  the  more  so  as  the  Jews  wore  continually  clam- 
oring to  have  him  brought  before  their  courts  in  Jerusa- 
lem, he  appealed  to  the  Roman  emperor.  Very  soon  after, 
King  Agrippa  came  from  Jerusalem  on  a  visit  to  the  Roman 
governor  Festus  at  Cresarea,  and,  as  ho  remained  some 
days,  Festus  had  Paul  brought  before  the  king.  In  the 
court-room,  besides  King  Agrippa,  wore  his  sister  Bernico 
and  FestuBj  the  governor^  together  with  a  largo  conoQurBO- 


IMPRISONMENT  AND   EXECUTION   OF   PAUL.      39 


of  the  military  and  of  the  chief  persons  of  the  city;  all  of 
whom  listened  with  profound  attention  to  the  eloquent 
words  of  the  apostolic  prisoner.  Paul  related  so  touch- 
ingly  and  so  ably  the  wonderful  circumstances  of  his  con- ' 
Tersion,  his  subsequent  labors,  his  sufferings,  trials,  and 
tribulations  in  his  newly  adopted  cause,  that  King  Agrippa 
cried  out,  '*  Thou  art  almost  able  to  persuade  me  to  become 
a  Christian;"  and  Festus,  the  governor,  observed,  "Paul, 
thou  art  beside  thyself;  too  much  learning  hath  made  thee 
'       mud."   .. 

As  Paul  had  appealed  to  the  emperor,  ho  was  ordered 
to  Rome  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  61;  and,  after  many 
delays,  he  reaciiedilie  imperial  city  about  Easter-time  the 
following  yciir.  Here  he  remained  in  prison  for  two  years,' 
but^boing  under  very  mild  restraint,  the  Christians  of 
Kome  had  access  to  him  and  were  permitted  to  receivfl 
instructions  in  the  new  faith.. 

Having   once  more  regained  his  liberty,  he  travelled 
westward  as   far  as  Sjiain;   returned  again  to  the  East, 
founding  the  churches  of  Crete,  visiting  Ephesus,  and 
traversing  Macedonia  for   the   third   time,  and   finally, 
about  the  year  67,  ho  went  with  St.  Peter  back  to  Rome. 
Here  cluiins  were  again  waiting  for  iiim;  but  this  time 
they  led  to  a  crown  of  victory.     This  fate  the  Apostle  had 
anticipated.     'Tor  I  am  even  now  ready,"  he  writes  to  his 
dearly  beloved  friend  Timothy,  **to  bo  sacrificed,  and  the  * 
time  of  my  dissolution  is  at  hand.     I  have  fought  the 
good  fight,   I  iiavo  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the 
faith.     As  to  tiio  rest,  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a.crown  of 
justice,  which  the  Lord,  the  just  Judge,  will  render  to 
me  in  that  day  of  mercy."   (3  Tim.  iv.)     He  was  not 
wrong  in  his  foreboding,  for  ho  and  St.  Peter  were  soon   - 
after  thrown  into  the  Mamertino  prison.     Even  hero' they 
turned   their  dungeons   into   j)ulpits,  and  continued  to 
pneach  to  their  fellow-prisoners  the  truths  of  religion,  of 
sal vatiottiwttl  redem ptitin  irrCtiriBt  JesTiB,  tttttho  tmaTCoaf 


n 


40 


CHRIST   IX  HIS   CHURCH. 


1 


Struck  in  which  these  lieroes  of  Christ  were  to  receive  the 
crown  of  martyrdom.  Whilst  St.  Peter  was  hurried  off 
to  crucifixion  on  the  Vatican  hill,  St.  Paul  was  being 
dragged  along  the  Ostian  road  and  beheaded.  An  inscrip- 
tion marks  the  spot  where  these  two  fellow-sufferers  saw 
each  other  for  the  last  time  on  earth,  and  bade 'each  other 
farewell  in  the  following  touchitig  words.  St.  Paul  said 
to  his" companion:  ''Peace  be  with  thee,  thou  foundation- 


Tho  Beheading  of  St.  PauL 

rock  of  the  Church,  8hei)herd  of  all  the  flocks  of  Christ." 
The  Prince  of  the  Apostles  replied:  "Go  in  peace,  thou 
teacher  of  all  ])ioty  and  virtue,  counsellor  of  the  good  and 
virtuous,  guide  to  salvation."  The  sump^tuous  Basilica  of 
St.  Paul  stands  over  the  grave  of  St.  Pa'ul,  as  St.  Peter's 
on  the  Vatican  hill  shelters  the  tomb  of  St.  Peter.  Some- 
thing more  than  a  mile  to  the  south-east  of  St.  Paul's 
Basilica  stands  the  church  of  "St.  Paul  with  the  Three 
Fountains,?'  on  the  spot  where  St.  Paul  w»ia  put  t>>  donfh. 


5:^ 


MISSIONARY  LABORS  OF  OTHER  APOSTLES.      41 

Old  tradition  has  it  that  the  head  of  the  Apostle,  on  being 
violently  severed  from  his  body,  bounded  and  struck  the 
earth  three  times,  and  that  at  each  point  of  contact  a 
spring  of  pure  water  bubbled  up  which  continues  to  flow 
till  the  present  day. 

II.  The  Missionary  Labors  of  the  Other  Apostles. 

"  Their  sound  hath  gone  forth  into  all  the  earth,  and  their  words 
unto  the  ends  of  the  world.  "—Psalms  xviii.  5. 

While  Peter  and  Paul  were  thus  laboring  to  advance  the 
cause  of  Christ,  the  other  Apostles  were  no  less  active  and 
devoted  in  the  great  work  of  spreading  the  name  and  re- 
ligion of  Jesus  Ciirist,  and  in  founding  and  building  up 
Christian  congregations  in  all  directions.     St.  James  the 
elder  pf^Sclaimed   the    tidings  of    salvation    throtighout 
Judea.     So  earnest  was  his  zeal,  and  so  great  his  success, 
that  he  drew  upon   himself  the   wrath   of  the  wilfully 
blinded  Pharisees,  to  please  whom  Herod  Agrippa  had  the 
Apostle  seized  at  Jerusalem  and  put  to  death  by  the  sword 
about  nine  or  ten  years  after  the  ascent  of  Christ  from  the 
earth.     According  to   tradition,    the   body  of  this  holy 
martyr  was  brought  into  the  Spanish  province  of  Gal- 
Iicia  where  it  is  to  this  day  visited  by  countless  p"ilgrim8 
at  the  shrine  of  Compostella. 

St.  John  the  Evangelist,  brother  of  James,  labored 
hrst  in  Judea.  Soon  after  we  meet  him  in  Ephesus,  the 
centre-point  of- Christianity  in  Asia  Minor,  where  he  gath- 
ered  about  him  an  assemblage  of  distinguished  disciples, 
watched  over  the  growing  congregations  of  the  neighbor- 
hood  and  shielded  the  legacy  of  the  faith,  keeping  it  in- 
tact from  the  innovations  of  the  Gnostics.  Tradition 
,  ejichos  that  St.  John  came  also  to  Rome,  where,  being 
hrown  into  a  caldron  of  boiling  oil,  near  the  Latin  gate? 

''"n.^and  ?fNi!Tni„i  ^^'-1'  ";'';'^^"I::"^^y  P>-oserved  «n- 
-i'"u,,  una   iiitGrwttrdu"4mniNli«.l   hv  hii^^ngmre8Tio~the 


42 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH? 


island  of^atmos,  where  he  wrote  the  books  of  the  Apo- 
.  ealypse,  or  Eevelation.     Eeturning  to  Ephesus,  lie  com- 
piled   his    Gospel,    and,    although  very  old  and  'infirm 
preached   with   untiring  zeal   the  great  law  of  charity, 
,  "  My  little  children,  love  one  another."     He  slept  in  the 
iLord  about  the  y^ar  100. 

St.  Andrew,  the  brother  of  St.  Peter,  preached  in  Scy- 
thia;  that  is,  in  Southern  liussia,  and. along  the  shores  of 
the  Black  Sea,  and  in  Byzantium,  the  Constantinople  of 
those  times.     At  Patras,  in  Greece,  he  was  brought  before 
the  judgment-seat  of  the  proconsul  ^geas.     "Sacrifice 
to  the  gods,"  was  the  order  of  the  heathen  proconsul. 
Andrew  replied  in  these  significant  words:  ''Daily  do  I 
offer  to  the  Almighty  God;  not  indeed  the  flesh  of  oxpn 
nor  the  blood  of  goats/ but  tlie  immaculate  Lamb  of  the 
altar;  that  Lamb-  with  whose  flesh  thousands  are  fed,  and 
who  yet  remains  living  and  entire."    At  these  words,  he 
was  condemned  to  TJe  crucified.     When  the  illustrious  con- 
fessor came  in  sight  of  the  instrument  of  his  martyrdom, 
he  greeted  it  lovingly  and  with  cheerfulness,  saying  :  ''  0 
dearest  cross,  honored  as  thou  hast  been  by  the  body  of  my' 
Master,  long  desired  by  mo,  my  most  cherished  friend 
whom  I  have  sought  for  constantly,  take  me  hence  from 
men  and  give  me  to  my  Lord!"     After  an  agony  of  two 
days'  duration,  he  calmly  departed  in  the  jieace  of  the 
Lord. 

St.  Philip  travelled  through  Scythia  and  Phrygia, 
preaching  faithfully  and  successfully,  and  finally  closing 
hi's  saintly  career  by. a  martyr's  death  on  the  cros^,  at 
Hierapolis,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

St.  Bartholomew,  that  same  Nathaniel  of  whom  our 
Lord  once  said,  "  Behold  a  truQ  Israelite,  in  whom  there  is 
no  guile,"  went  on  his  missionary  du.tioa  as  far  as  "  Ipdia," 
which  means,  probably,  Southern  Arabia.  He  suffered 
martyrdom  in  the  capital  city  of  Arnjenia,  having  been 
flrHti  flayed  by  hitt  oxooutiunuiu  ■' —  ^ 


i&;;j 


MISSIONARY  LABORS   OF   OTHER  APOSTLES.      43 


St.  Matthew,  who  before  his  calling  was  named  Levi, 
was  the  son  of  Alpheus,  and  preached  the  word  of  God  in 
Ethiopia,  Arabia,  and  Persia.  He  was  the  first  among  the 
four  Evangelists  to  write  the  history  of  the  public  .life  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  he  did  in  Palestine  before 
beginning  his  missionary  labors. 

St.  Thomas,  after  having  carried  the  light  of  the  Gos- 
])cl  to  the  Parthians,  Medes,  and  Persians,  penetrated  into 
India,  where,  by  the  command  of  the  king,  he  was  pierced 
by  a,  lance  at  Calumina.  '^ 

St.  ..James  the  younger,  the  cousin  of  our  Lord  an#son 
of  Alpheus,  after  the  dispersion  of  the  Apostles  became 
bishop  of  Jerusalem,  whei'e,  by  his  self-denial,  strict  integ- 
rity, and  love  of  prayer,  he  not  only  edified  and  strength- 
ened the  infant  Church  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  but" 
won  over  to  the  faith  so  many  of  the  Jews  that  the  chief- 
l)riests  became  exasperated  and  decreed  the  saint's  death 
by  stoning,  in  the  year  63.  He  was  finally  slain  \^ith  a 
fuller's  club.  He  is  the  author  of  one  of  the  apostolic 
e])istles,  in  which  he  exhorts  all  the  new  Christians  scat- 
tered through  the  country  to  the  practice  of  the  faith. 

St.  Jude  Tliaddeus,  the  brother  of  James,  we  meet  as 
missionary  in  Arabia,  Syria,  Mesopotamia,  and  Persia, -in 
wliich  countries  he  labored  faithfully,  till,  overtaken  by 
the  cruelty  of  theenemies  of  Christianity,  he  secured  a 
martyr's  crown.     He  too  has  left  us  one  epistle. 

St.  Simon  the  Canaanite  preached  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  to  the  iiihal)itants  of  Egypt  and  of  other  parts  of 
Nort  h(>rn  Africa,  of  Persia  and  of  Babylon.  He  was  cru- 
(iiliod  or,  as  some  affirm,  hacked  to  pieces  at  Suanir. 

St.  Matthias,  one  of  the  .seventy-two  disciples,  was 
chosen  Apostle  soon  after  the  Ascension  of  Christ,  to  take 
the  place  of  Judas.  Judea  and  afterward  Ethiopia  were 
the  scenes  of  his  apostolic  activity  and  zeal ;  Sebastopolig, 
the  place  of  his  martyrdom.. 

St.  Mark,-orTn6re  prcTpFTynSlT^JoHH;  acooml^SnM" 


^^ 


&iil^t^  .&-Si^jt.»  lA  e'liit^tM  K^ 


^y:^r  r^:\^^X:-;^''-'^ 


44 


CUBIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


Pai^l  iind  Barnabas  to  Antioch  aiui  Cypftis  ;  and  thence  to 
Afriba,  where  he  afterwards  founded  the  Church  of  Alex- 
andria. We  also  .find  him  in  Italy,  'establishing  the 
churches  of,  Venice  and  Aquileia  ;  ^nd  in  Eome  working 
side  by  side  with  St,  fe^er,  who  styled  him  his  son,  and 
under  whose  direction  he  wrote  his  Gospel.   "  ^ 

St.  Luke  was  a  physician,  and  also  a  painter,  from 
Antioch  in  Syria,  and  was  chosen  by-St.  Paul;  in  the  year 
53,  to  accompany  liiin  on  the  mission.  Unde]-  the  direc- 
tion of  St.  Paul  he  compiled  his'Gospel,  and  afterwards  the 
Act^  of  the  Apostles.  When  far  advanced  in  yeaj-s,  it  was 
hi§  privilege  to  seal  with  his  blood  that  holy  faith  which 
he  had  taught  so  fidthfully  by  word  and  writing." 

Thus  it  was  that  our  beloVed"  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  was'  pleased  to  manifest  himself  by  his  first  messen-  ■ 
gers  to  the  nations  of  the  earth.     How  imperishable  the 
glory  }^nd  triumph  of  these  chosen  servants 'of  God,  these 
first  pillars  of  the  Cliristian  Church  I    Little  indeed  has 
been  written  about  their  apostolic  labors,  but  in  the  book 
of  life  their  names  are  inscribed  in  letters  of  gold.     On 
the  great  day  of  judgment  we  shall  all  discover  how  much 
^ these  disinterested  men  preached,  wrought,  and  suffered 
in  their  unceasing  efforts  to  spread  the  Church  of  Christ 
throughout  thb  earth.     We  mayform  some  feeble  notion 
'  of  their  arduous  duties  by  reading  and  studying  the  ad- 
dress of  St.  Paiil  to  the  Corinthians,  where  he.  describes 
sofne  of  his  own  experiences,  jis  well  as  some  of  the  other 
Apostles': 

^  "  They  are  the  ministers  of  Christ.  (I  speak  as  one  Im 
wise.)  lam  more:  in  many  more  labors,  in  prisons 
more  frequently,  in  strii)e8  above  measure,  in  deaths 
often.  Of  the  Jews  five  times  did  I  rt;ceive  forty  stripes, 
save  one.  Thrice  was  I  beaten  with  rods,  once  I  was 
stoned,  thrice  1  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a  day  I 
was  in  the  depth  of  the  sea.  In  journeying  often,  in 
perils  of  waters,  in  perj^s  of  robbPTg^in  perilH  from  my-oya^ 


GROWTH   OF   THE   CHURCH   IN   EUROPE. 


45 


nation,  in  perils  from  the  Gentiles,  in  perils  in  the  city, 
in  perils  in' the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils 
from  false  brethren.  In  labor  and  painfulness,  in  much 
watchings,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings'-qften,  in  cold 
and  nakedness.  Besides  those  things  which  are  without : 
my  daily  instance,  the  solicitude  for  all  the  churches. 
Who  is  weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  Who  is  scandalized, 
and  Lam  not  on  fire?  If  I  must  needs  glory,  I  will 
glory  of  the  things  that  conceni  my  infirmity.  The  God 
and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  who  is  blessed  for 
ever,  knoweth  that  I  lie  not." 


12.  The  Growth  of  the  Church  in  Europe. 

,  "But  you  are  a  chosen  generation,  a  purchased  people:  that 
you  may  declare  his  virtues,  who  hath  called  you  out  of  darkness 
into  his  marvellous  light"— 1  Peter  ii.  9. 

Rome  is  the  centre  of  Ciiriatianity.  Here  the  infant 
Church,  baptized  in  the  blood  of  the  twin  apostles,  grew 
so  rapidly  that  she  co  ah  ted  in  the  third  century  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  priests  besides  her  Chief  Bishop.  In  the 
other  cities,  too,  of  Italy,  Christian  congregations  sprang 
up  and  flourished  in  such  numbers  and  piety  that,' 
among  all  the  other  countries  of  Europe,  Italy  possesses* 
the  enviable  happiness  and  honor  of  being  the  first  Chris- 
tian nation  in  point  of  time. 

In  Spain  the  Churcli  planted  by  St.  Paul  grew  and 
flourished  to  such  an  extent  that  the  cities  of  Toledo, 
Leon,  Tarragona,  Cordova,  an^  Elvira  w&re  bislioprics 
as  early  as  the  year  250. 

According  to  the  traditions  of  the  Churches  of  Vienna 

,  and  Aries,  in  France,  the  faitii  was  first  preached  in  that  - 
country  by  sgme  disciples  of  the  Apostles  themselves.     It 
IS  beyond  doubt,. ho we\-er,  that  some  Christian  emigrants" 

jLqmjLfljBLJlitior,  under  ihe  ka<L^Qf-^tfe-IV4witttt<j  ttttd- 


\ 


46 


ii 


!  I- 


I)HRIST   IN  HIS   CIIUKCII. 


Ireuaeus,  brought  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  perm'^ 
iiently  to  France  about  the  year  150.  These  foundeal  1 
the  Church  at  Lyons,  whence  thej  afterwards  sent  otit 
many  zealous  missionaries  to  convert  other  tribes  among^  ■ 
the  Gauls.  The  infant  Church  of  France,  or  Gaul,  Was 
threatened  wi\  destruction  during  the  great  and 'violent 
incursions  of  the  Franks;  but  the  Lord  protected  and 
saVed  his  vineyard  ;  foi-  the.t^rench  king,  Clovis,  imme- 
diately after  the  memorable  victory  on  the  plain  of  Zul- 


The  Baptism  of  Clovis.  *, 

pich,  became  converted  to4^ie  true' faith,  and  was  bap- 
tized, togetlier  with  the  chief  officers  of  his  court,  on 
Christmas-day,  40G.* 

*  Previous  to  this  date,  aH  tlie  efforts  made  by  Queen  Clotilda 
to  convert  the  king  to  tlio  true  faith  had  proved  fruitless.  In  the 
midst;  of  the  batHe  t)f  Zulpich,  fought  against  the  Allcnmnni  tribes  in 
496)  Clovis,  finding  the  fortunes  of  war  going  against  him,  and  his 
tro6p8  beginning  to  yield,  fell  on  his  knees  in  the  battle-field  and  peti- 
tioned "  Clotilda's  God  "  for  assistance.  Victory  came  to  him  iinex- 
pecte^ly.    Full  of  gratityde,  he  put  liimself  under  a  course  of  reli- 


GROWTH   OF   THE   CHURCH   IN^EUROPP:. 


47 


The  light  of  our  Lord's  Gos})el  shed  its  rays  as  far  as 
England,  and  tradition  makes  mention  of  a  Christian  king 
ofl  that  country,  named  St.  Lucius,  as  early  as  the  year  180. 
About  the  middle  of  the  fifth  century  that  country  was 
overrun  by  the  pagan  Anglo-Saxons,  and  the  feeble  Church 
"  was  in  great  danger  of  extinction.     Pope  Gregory  the  Great, 


St.  Patrick. 

however,"came  to  its  rescue  by  sending,  aboiit  the  year  596, 
the  Abbot  Augustine,  together  with  forty  missionaries^ 
gious  instruction,  and  counselled  all  his  soldiers  to  turn  towards 
that  one  true  God  wlio  had  led  them  on  to  victory.  Accordingly 
on  (Miristmas-day  of  the  same  year,  the  king,  together  with  three 
thousand  of  ]iis  subjects,  received  baptism  at  the  hands  of  the 
samtly  bishop  Kemigius,  who  immediately  'after  tlic  ceremony 
spoke  to  the  king  the  following  significant  words  :  "Bow  down  thy 
liead.  proud  Sicamber;  burn  what  thou  hast  hitherto  «§w^if  and 
adore  in  future  wliat  thou  hast  liitlierto  burned."  F(fr,  until'  that 
time,  King  Clovis,  who  wa»descen(Jedfrona  the  family  of  the  Sicam- 
-itfi,  Jmd  bee»«u  idol-W(>i-«hit>{>t4'  and  an^fiemy  oftfie  oMtH¥  Gi^ 


I  i 


il 


48 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


to  regenerate  the  people.     In  Jess  tlum  fifty  years  after 
St.  Augustine's  arrival  we.find  many  bislioi)rics,  churches, 
'and  monasteries  in  England,  who  'in  her  turn  sent  out 
countless  holy  missicftiaries  to  the  other  nations  of  Eu- 
rope. 

Ireland  was  added  to  the  list  of  Christian  nations  by 

the   great   St.    Patrick.     His   efforts  were   so  blessed  by 

Heaven  that  in  a  few  years  the  whole  peoi)le  had  become 

jnost  faithful  and  fervent  Catholics ;  and  so  numerous  were 


St.  Columbao. 

the  holy,  learned,  and  indefatigable  missionaries  whom  she 
sent  abroad  that  she  received  the  glori'ous  title  of  the 
*' Island  of  Saints."  Amongst  the  countless  missionaries- 
from  Ireland  was  St.  Columkillc,  who  went  to  Scotland  in 
565,  and  at  his  death,  in  597,  left  the  whole  country 
Catholic.  -^  * 

In  the  same  century  St.  Aidan  carried'tho  treasures  of 
Ireland's  faith  and  piety  into  yorthumbftTOimj^inJEngln-nd. 


GROWTH  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN   EUROPE. 


49 


St.  Coiiimban,  like  Abraham  of  old,  left  his  native  Ireland 
during  the  seventh  century,  and  traversed  Gaul,  Switzer- 
land, and  Italy,  preaching  Christ  crucified  to  the  still  uncon- 
verted inhabitants  of  those  countries.     St.  (&all,  who  accom- 
panied  St.  Coluraban  in  his  missionary  travels,  was  the - 
chief  founder  of  Christianity  in  Switzerland.     All  through 
the  seventh,  eighth,  and  ninth  centuries  the  sons  of  Ireland 
continued  to  preach  Christ  crucified  throughout  most  of 
the  unconverted  portions  of  Europe,  and  to  supply  abun- 
dant prok  that  the  life  of  Christ  hud  been  prolonged  in 
the  ''Island  of  Saints."    That  land  of  St.  Patrick,  St. 
Malachy,  and  St.  Brendan  was  indeed  a  home  of  fifith. 
In  days  when  paganism  and  desolation  still  reigned  where 
Christianity  is  now  triumphant,  Ireland  had  its  saints  ruling   ' 
their  flocks,  its  well-ordered  hierarchy,  its  schools  of  Chris- 
tian science.     Armagh,  Lismore,  Clonfert,  and  other  seats  ' 
of  learning  and  piety  were   known   throughout   Europe. 
Teachers  from  Ireland  were  held   in  high   honor  in  the 
universities  of  Oxford,  Paris,  Pavia,  and  Bologna. 

Jven  in  the  days  of  the  northern  invasions  we  find  the 
monasteries  of  Europe,  tliose  ramparts  behind  which  re- 
ligion and  civilization  took  shelter  from  the  furious  incur- 
sions of  northern  bar])arians,  defended  in  a  great  measure 
by  those  heroic  sons  of  Ireland  who  had  caught  the  im- 
pulse^f  their  apostle's  sanctity  and  zeal. 

A  learned  and  holy  writer  of  the  present  day  thus  elo- 
quently describes  the  s])iritual  and  mystic  life  of  Christ  as 
-  manifested  in  Ireland,  before  the  days  of  persecution: 
"  The  image  of  that  fair  island  rises  before  me,  rock-bound 
and  lashed  by  the  mighty  waters  of  the  west,  green  with 
living  verdure,  with  its  blue  mountains,  its  fruitful  plains 
and  exhaustless  rivers.  I  seem  to  see  some  old  picture, 
such  as  IS  hung  over  the  altars  in  our  sanctuaries,  and  in 
which  the  skill  of  the  painter  is  even  less  than  the  sanctity 
of  his  idea.  It  is  such  as  we  often  see  when  in  the  back- 
__^i^n4there^iHtt  gentle  land5cape,i)oraaed  by  daiT^Vtran  — 


i»5' 


^..•*' 


# 


60 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


li!^ 


quil  mountains,  shaded  by  tall  and  spreading  trees,  in  the 
midst  a  calm  water  and  clear  bright  air  ;  here  is  a  company 
of  saints  musing  on  Holy  Writ,  and  there  a  multitude  of 
upturned  faces  drinking  in  the  words  of  an  evangelist;  on 
one  side  a  crowd  by  a  river's  brink  receiving  the  sacrament 
of  regeneration  ;  on  the  other,  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the 
altar  is  lifted  up  before  the  Eternal  Father ;  beyond  is  a 
mystic  ladder  reaching  up  to  heaven,  on  which  angels  are 
ascending  and  descending,  and  communing  ^ith  samts  in 
vision  ;  and  in  the  foreground,  rising  over  sM,  is  Jesus  on 
his  throne,  and  on  his  right  hand  Mary  croSv^ied  with  light 
and  beauty." 

In  Germany,  the  country  along  the  Rhine  was  the  first 
to  receive  the  light  of  the  Gospel.  As  early  as  the  year  150, 
(^hristian  congregations  v/ere  in  flourishing  and  ovell- 
ordered  condition  ;  and  when,  in  the  year  336,  St.  Atha- 
nasius,  bishop  of  Alexandria,  came  during  his  exile  to 
Triers,  he  found  Catholic  bishops  in  Strasburg,  Cologne, 
Speyer,  Worms,  and  Trier.  In  South  Germany,  too,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Leek  and  the  Danube,  the  cross  of  Christ 
was  firmly  i)lanted  at  a  very  early  jieriod  ;  whilst  renowned 
^  saints  such  as  Bishop  Maximilian  of  Lorch,  Florian  of  Ems, 
Dionysius  of  Augsburg  and  his  niece  Sc.  Afra,  Victorinus 
of  Petau,  and  many  others,  consecrated  and  fertilized  the 
soil  of  Germany  with  martyr-blood  about  the  year  300. 

Switzerland  honors  as  her  first  apostle  St.  Beatus,  who 
died  in  the  year  of  Christ  112.  In  very  early  days  this 
land  had  episcopal  sees  in  Augusta,  afterwards  called 
Basel ;  A^nche,  afterwards  called  Lausanne ;  in  Con- 
stance, Gaieva/  and  Cliur. 

The  invjis^ioK  of  the  Huns,  Allemanni,  and  other  b^m 
barons  tribes  had  well-nigh  destroyed  the  Church  in  Ger- 
many and  Switzerland  ;  but,  in  order  to  firmly  and  perma- 
nently restore  and  re-establish  it,  the  Almighty  raised  up, 
durihg  the  sixth  and  seventh  centuries,  a  body  of,  holy, 
zealous,  and  able  men,  such  as  Fridolin,  Columba,  Gall. 


GROWTH    OF   THE   CHURCH   IN    EUROPP: 


61 


Truti)crt,   Pirmiii,   Severin,   Rupert,  Emcran,  Corbinian, 
and  Killian. 

Germany's  cliief  apostle,  however,  w&s  St.  Boniface. 
He  was  a  man  of  untiring  zeal,  high  intellect,  and  child- 
like simplicity  ;  a  very  hero  in  his  faith,  in  his  dependence 
on  Providence,  and  in  his  charity  ;  yes,  a  vessel  of  election 
like  St.  Paul.  Born  in  England  about  the  year  G80,  he 
received  at  his  baptism  the  name  of  Winifred,  and  entered, 


St.  Boniface. 

at  an  early  age,  the  order  of  the  Benedictines.  Hearing 
m  his  soul  a  voice  fj'om  heaven  saying,  ''  Carry  the  light  of 
my  Gospel  to  the  people  who  sit  in  darkness  and  the  shadow 
of  death  ;  I  will  thei'^  show  thee  how  thou  must  labor  and 
suffer  for  me,"  Winnif red  promptly  responded  to  this  inte- 
rior voice  of  God.  Fortified  with  the  blessing  of  his  abbot 
and  the  prayers  of  his  fellow-religious,  he  entered  on  his  mis- 
sionary  labors,  first  in  Fjief^land  n,nd  aftorward^«  Thtmii- 


X. 


I  HI 


1^  ■■[ 


I 


I  m 


.i»- 


» 


52 


t^HRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


gui  and  among  the  Hessiaiw^.     Here  he  hewed  down  the 
sacred  oak-tree  to  whfeh  the  inhabitants  used  to  pay  divine 
honors,  and  with  the' timber , built  a  chai)el  in  honor  of 
St.  Peter.     Paganism  in  tliis  district  fell  with  its  sacred 
oak,  to  rise  no  more.     Our  saint  afterwards  la'bored  in 
Bavaria,  m  the  Rhine  countries,  and  even  in  France  itself 
where,  by  the  permission  and  authority  of  the  popc'ie 
anointed  Pepin  king  of  France  in  752.     When  far  advanced 
in  years,  the  ardent  wish  of  his  early  youth  returned  to 
him;  namely,  the  desire  to  become  a  missionary  in  Fries- 
land.     He  travelled,  towards  tlTS%orth,  baptized  many  in 
-tlie  true  faith,  and  for  his  zeal  received   the  crown   of 
martyrdom  at  Dorkum,  on  the  5t1i  of  June,  753. 

This  apostle  of  Germany  made  three  wearisome  jour- 
neys to  Rome  in  order  to  obtain  the  sanction  and  blessing 
of  the  Vicar  of  Christ  upon  his  hibors,  as  well  as  to  keep- 
the  Church  of- Germany  in  close  union  with  the  coHtfTof 
Christian  fAith-  and  unity.     He  received  from  the  Pope 
the  bcai^iful  and  significant  name  of  Boniface,  or  doer  of 
(/ood;  aid  also  the  dignity  of  archbishop  of  Mayence  and 
paml  Jogate  for  all  Germany.     Many  dioceses  and'  monas- 
fS^'are  indebted  to  liim  for  their  creation  or  restora- 
i^iofi^.     His  good  work  was  continued  by  his  faithful  dis- 
ciples, to  the  great  blessing  of  Germany. 

At  the  death  of  St.  Boniface,  the  Saxons  in  WestjWia- 
lia,  Eastphalia,  and  EngerrfVere  the  only  large  German 
tribe  still  in  idolatry.  But  these  also  became  subject  to 
the  yoke  of  Christ  about  thd  ^w  800  ;  and  the  work 
begun  by  the  sword  of  CharlcKlagne  was  completed  by 
the  untiring  zeal,  holy  exami)le,  and  ])rofound  knowledge 
of  humble  and  self-sacrificing  bishops  and  priests. 

Our  blessed  J.ord  and  ^Saviour  wished  also  to  take  up 
hia  mystic  abode  among  the  i)e.)i)lo  of  the  North  ;  that  is, 
among  the  Scandinavians  in  Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Nor- 
way. To  efTeet  his  loving  designs,  he  chose  us  apostle  for 
these  ]>eople  the  holy  monk  Ansgi.r,  afterwjirds  archbishop 


/ 


o 


w. 


GROWTH   OF  THE   CHUKCH   IN    EUROPE. 


63 


of  Hani  burg- Bremen,  who  from  this  place  travelled  forth 
among  tlie  Swedes  and  Danes,  preaching  the  Gospel  and 
establisiiing  the  Church  on  a  firm  basis,  by  erecting  dio- 
ceses and  founding  several  seats  of  piety  and  learning.  . 

The  cross  of  our  Saviour  was  carried  in  triumph  into 
tlie  countries  of  Sclavia  ;  that  is,  among  the  peoples  of 
Bohemia,  Poland,  and  Russia.  The  cjiief  apostles  among 
the  Sclavonic  races  were  the  Greek  Aonks  i^ethodius  and 
'  Cyrillus;  who  lived  about  870.  The  diocekes  6f  Posen, 
founded  in  968,  .of  Prague,  in  973,  and  of  Gnesen,  in  997, 
were  the  centres  whence  irradiated  the  glorious  light  of 
the  Gospel  into  all  the  surrounding  districts 

Among  the  Magyars  in  Hungary  we  meet  in  the  yeiir 
950,  as  first  bishop,,  the  monk  Hierotheus.  Two  holy 
bishops,  Piligrim  of  Pussau  and  Adalbert  of  Prague,  to- 
gether with  the  king  St.  Stephen,  completed,  about  the 
year  1000,  the  conversion  of  this  warlike  people  ;  and  the 
arclibishopric  of  Grau  became  at  this  time  the  centre  of 
Christianity  in  Hungary. 

The  last  people  in  Europe  to  open  their  eyes  to  the 
light  of  the  true  faith  were  the  Prussians.     About  the 
year  1000,  the  saintly  Adalbert,  N^iehop  of  Prague,  and 
the  holy  Benedictine  monk  Bruno  mile  mj  unsuccessful 
effort  to  convert  Prussia,  and  botlr  filHmirtyrs  to  their 
in<J^mital)le  zeal.     It  waft  not  until   after  the  adjoining 
countries  of  Pomerania  and   Livonia  had  become  Chris- 
tian, about  the  year  1150,  and  when  the  nion*  Christian, 
of  the  momistery  of  Oliva,  after  having  hibored  as  bishop 
of  the  Prussians  with  extraordinary  zeal  and  perseverance 
for  their  conversion,  ^nlhd  \o  his  aid,  in  the  year  1236, 
the  knights  of  the  German  order,  under  the  lead  of  grand- 
master Herman  of  Salza,  that  the  religion  of  Christ  struck 
a  firm  root  in  tiiat  country. 

But--after  the  short  duration  of  less  than  throe  Win-  • 
dred  years,  the  Catholic  religi(ui  was  overturned  and  dis- 
o*i'tJwl-=bj4;ht?se  inroplF;  imft  frpTfllTrTjuidT^hTeTi  wiis"" 


li^l 


:fi 


,!    f 


!i 


54 


CHRIST  m  HIS   CHURCH. 


he  last  to  admit  Christianity  to  its  embrace,  broke  forth 
the  disastrous  storm  of  the  so-called  reformation,  which 
m  the  sixteenth  century  carried  away  a  large  portion  of 
Europe  from  the  Catholie  Church.  In  oMe/  to  arrest 
the  pernicious  progress  of  this  so-called  reformation,  but 
more  especially  in  order  to  strengthen  and  vivif;  the 
faith  and  Christiaii  virtue  among  the  people  who  remained 


St.  Francis  of  Asslsl 


steadfast  to  the  faith.  Cod  caUed  into  existence  tlio  sys- 
tem of  home-misHi(,ns.  F..r  what  did.  it  avail"  to  huvo 
I.rem>lH.d  the  religion  of  Christ,  or  to  have  established 
h.s  Church.  ,f  (he  spirit  which  Muickeireth-namely,  fui,h 
';'I>o.  ..nd  c  uirity-^shouM  gradu.dly  bccon.e  dead,  and  if 
Chr.stutn  l.fe  shouM  degenerate  int.  .,  ,,„mt  ,-vfcn,:il  and 


HISTORY   OF   THE   CHURCH   IN  ASIA. 


55 


profitless/jpi-ofession  sfl  religion  ?     As  a  strong  defence 
against  such  an  evil,  Christ  raised  up  learned  and,  holy 
bisliops,  and  zealous,  edifying  priests  to  bo  their  assist- 
ants  \n   securing   the   salvation    of   souls.      Nevertheless 
there  have  been  occasions  when  this -aridity  of  Christian 
life  among  men  seemed  to  threaten  the  life- of  the  Chu^h 
itself  in  a  most  formid^ible  manner.     Then,  indeed,  were, 
extraordinary  men  and  means  required,  and  Christ  never 
failed  to  raise  them  up  at  the  proper  moment  to  protect 
his  Church.     Such,  for  instance,  were  the  groat  peniten- 
tial preachers,   whoso   burning   elociucnce   often    aroused 
whole  nations  to  a  sense  of  their  duty  to  God    and  to 
the   i)ractice    of    his    saving     truths  ^ind    ]u-ecei)ts,    and 
infused  a  renewed  Christian  life  iiiio  their  hitherto  dead- 
ened souls.     Among  these  may  be    mentioned  St.    Ber- 
nard, St.    Francis  of   A^sisi,   Sfc^    Dominic,    St.    Vincent 
Ferrer,  St.  Charles   Borronu^o,   St.   Francis   of  Sales,  and 
many  others.      In   more  recent  jiges   four  great  religious 
orders    have    flourished    in    a   8])ecia,l    manner,    through 
•whose    exerlion^s,    in    t^ie    coiMucling   of   popular    home- 
missions  in  llie  j)arishes,  many  most  salutary  aiid  ])rofit-. 
aide   blessings  ami   graces  have   lu'cu   bestowed  ujx.n  the 
faillifiil.     These  are  the  Society  of  th(>  Jesuijs,  the  Capu- 
chin fathers,  the  .Alission   Priests  of  St.  Vincent  do  Paul, 
and  the  Kedemptorists. 


13.   The  History  of  the  Church  in  Asia. 

"Thou  kiiowest  this,  that  all  they  who  are  in  Asia  are  turned 
awiiy  from  nic  " — 2  Timothy  i.  5. 

And  now  wo  direct  our  attention  towards  the  second 
continent,  called  Asia,  to  loam  how  the  Church  of  Cod 
has  been  spread  over  its  l)ouudles8  tel-ritory.  Let  ub  enter 
thiK  region  with  reverence,  for  its  soil  is  sacred.  Here,  of 
-*445  tWt4t  the  palrian^iiH;  iroTF,  fnr'I'nTn'  thcmMruTyeaf^^ 


i: 

i  ■ 


i  1 
iill! 

iJ'l' 


I      '4': 


56 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH, 


lif 


was  the  mystery  of  our  Redemption  in  slow'^nd  solemn 
prepui-ation  ;  iK're  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  of  kings,  lived 
in  the  form  of  a  servant.     Praise  \)e  to  him  for  all  eter- 
nity !         • 

A  rich  and  abundant  harvest  sprang  up  here  from  the 
seed  sown  by  Christ  and  his  Apostles.  Antioch  in  Syria, 
Tyre  in  Phanicia,  Ephesus  and  Smyrna  in  .Asia  Minor' 
Nisibis  in  Mesopotamia,  Sebaste  in  Armenia,  Seleucia-in 
Persia,  Bostra  in' Arabia,  Salamis  in  the  island  of  Cyprus: 
all  th«.se  places  were  flourishing  gardens  in  the  vineyard 
of  Chnstianity  during  the  first  three  centuries.  Chris- 
tian  piety,  morals,  and  knowledge  not  only  flourished 
here,  but  were  carried  iorth  .to  every  quarter  of  western 
and  southern  Asia.  Even  India*  and  Chinaf  were  illumi- 
nated by  the  rays  of  the  Gospel-Sun.' 

Who  would  have  suspected  in  those  days  of  Asiatic 
faith  and  piety  that  the  dark  night  of  infidelity  would 
soon  en^-elop  that  continent,  and  the  Sun  of  Christianity  " 
hke  the  sun  in  the  firmament,  would  take  its  way  west- 
Mrard  to  European  Ijinds  ?     Such  are  the  inscrutjvble  ways 
of  divine  wisdom,  yea,  rather  of  divin«  justice.     Most  of. 
these   eastern   nations,  gradually  forgetting  how  deeply 
they  were  indebted  to  the  Cospel  of  Christ,  in  place  of  a 
child-hke  faith  cultivated  pride  of  intellect  and  rebellion 
.of  hearl-both  leading  to  infidel'ity-and  they  soon  began 
to  look  upon  the  maxims  of  Christianity  as  an  intolerable 
burden.     Then  came  the  visitation  of"  divine  justice  ur.on    " 
these  ungrateful  people.     The  first  heavy  blow  of  retribu- 
tion was  struck  by  the  hands  of  the  Persian  kings,  who* 
during  a  period  of  three  hundred  years,  till-  620    perse- 
cuted the  Church. of  Asia  with  fire  and  sword.  ""These 

*  In  the  year  535  the  monk  Cosmas  found  Christian  congrega-     ' 
tions  in  those  counlrieH,  uiul  even  *n)isl,op  at'Calliana 

t  Accof^ding  to  an  old  dociin.ent  written  in  ancioht  Syrian  and 
Chinese,  and  discovered  in  1625.  a  priest  named  Jaballah  spread  the 
faith  here  about  the  year  640.  ,     '^«»u,tiic 


n. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   CHURCH^  Ui  ASIA.  67 

r 

people  received  "their  death-stroke  from-  the  hand  of  Mo- 
hammed.   '     ' 

This  clever  impostor,  son  of  a  pagan  father  .and  Jewish 
mother,  was  horn  in  the  year  570,  at  Mecca  in  Arabia. 
His  fellow-countrymen,  though  they  held  a  variety  of  re-  ' 
,  ligious  views,  were  closely  united  in  their  common  venera- 
tion for  the  Kaaba  at  Mecca,  a  kind' of  sanctuary  in  which,  • 
as  they  claimed,  stood  the  so-called  Altar  of  Abraham,  I 
shapeless  dark-colored  Stone. ,    Mohammed,  encouraged  by  , 
Abdallah  the  Jew,  and  by  ^ergius,  "a  heretical  monk,  in-  ' 
veighed  forcibly  against  the  idolatry  of  his  countrymen 
.     and  preached  the  doctrine  of  '*  One  God,  and  Mohammed 

•  IS  his  prophet."     Being  perswftited  by  hik  neighbors,  he 
fled  on  the  15th  of, July,  622,  from  Mecca  to  Medina,  and 
soon  aftenvards  he  succeeded  in  bringing  all  Arabia  under 
his  power  and  made  it.confqrtn  to  his  religious  teachings  . 
His  flight  IS  stijl  known  by  the  term  Hegira,  or  the  Proph-  ■ 
■et's  flight.     His,system  trf  reiigion,  which  was 'based  upon  " 
preteiided  revelations  made  by  the  Archangel  Gabriel,  and 
wjiich  con^sts  even  )^t  qU  a  mixture  of  paganism  and 
Judaism  with  a  tinge  o5  ChVistianity,  was  embodied  in  the 
Koran,  -af  ten-  Mobammed's  death  in  632,  and  carriedby 
dint  of  arms  over  all  western  Asia,  tliroilghout  northern  , 

-  Africa,  and  even  reaulicj^  Spain  tlirough  the  emigration  of 
the  Arabs.  >     . 

.8in.ce  t^e  rise  of  Mphammed,  Asia  has  continued  to     - 
be  a  dry  and  rotten  branch,, fallen  from  the  Christian  tree 
of  life.  .  . 

Throughout  the  middle  ages  the  Popes  never  lost  sight 

of  th«   spiritual  interests -of  Asia,   nor  even   of  Africa 

Dunng- tt^  thirt^eeifCIi  4d  fourteenth  centuries  several 

of  the  ihissiona/^ies  seht  by  the  Heads  of  tbe  Church  to 

*  that^part  of  the  World  penetrated  even  as  far  as  China 

But  the   his Wy   of    these    Christian   missionaries  is^ 
shrouded  in  impenetrable  obscurity. As  the  day  .of  .p.^t  -    ' 


■I' 


-byun-Htt-TO  n-ovldehce  for  the  conversion  of  these  ZI^- 


II  ti 


If-  "^ 


i! 


1 


lii!- 


Ill 


i(!    y 


68  CHRIST   IN   HK   CHURCH. 

^  tries  had^not  yet  dawned,  we  ma^f  believe  that  the  efforts 
of  these  messengers,  tliongh  doubtless  saving  many  souls, 
were  not  attended  with  much  external  lustre. 

•   For  many  centuries  Asia  lay  enveloped  in  utter  dark-, 
ness';   till  at  last  the  Lord,  who  chastises  and  forgives, 
smites  to  the  earth  and  raises  up  again,  sent  to  tbem  an- 
other apostle  in  the  person  of  Saint  Francis  Xavier.    This 

,  zealous  and  extraordinary  man,  leaving  home  and  friends, 
was  carried  'on  the  wing^  of  love,  about  the  year  1542,  to 


St.  Francis  Xavier. 


the  East  Indies,  where,  like  his  divine  Master,  he  called 
around  him  the  children  of  ignorance  and  supeistition, 
won  their  confidence  and  affection,  and  tlirough  theee 
young  people  gained  the  heathen  parents  to  Christ.  He 
then  founded  churches  and  opened  schools.  The  Indians 
styled  him  the  Holy  Man,. the" Great  Father.  Froip  India 
he  went  to  Japan,  where  in  the  short  space  of  two  years  and 
a  half  he  j)ODvertcd^  several  thousand  soujU.     He  again  set. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   CHUECH   IN   ASIA. 


69 


sail  for  China,  with  the  liop/e  of  bringing  its  benighted 
inhabitants  to  a  knowledge  of  the  true  faith,  but  died  on 
the  confines  of  that  country  on  the  3d  of  December,  1553, 
after  having  baptized,  according  to  reliable  authority, 
more  than  three  hundred  thousand  pagans. 

His  brethren  in  religion,  the  fathers  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus,  continued  the  work  of  this  illustrious  missionary 
in  India  and  Japan,  building  in  the  former  country,  from 
1552   to   1590,  about  two   hundred   and  fifty  churches; 


A  Missionary  among  the  Pagans. 


will 


e  in  Ciiina;  by  the  holiness  of  their  lives^  the  wisdom 


of  Micir  })roacliing.  and  the  glow  of  their  unbounded  char 
■  ity.  tliey- gained- tliousands  upon  thousands  of  souls  to 
Christ.  Nqtwithstanding  cruel  and  bloody  persecutions, 
especially  in  Ja])an,  there  have  never  been  wanting",  since 
that  time,  God-inspired  mep  to  devote  themselves  wholly 
to  the  Christian  missions  in  Asia.  Dei)ending  altogether 
upon  the  offerings  of  Christians  in  Europe,  f^eenlaf  prieats, 
Jesuits,  Lazarists,  Citpuehins,\t^d  other  devoted  servants 
-vf -€rod  hartr  w urn  t h^m sel ves  out  In~H6Ty  r i vaTry,  Tn  TKeTf 


' 


II 


:  M!'  !i 


in 


■ij 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 

Efforts  to  spread  the  kingdom  of  Christ  throughout 
heathen  lands.  At  the  same  time,  brave  and.  self-sacri- 
ficing sisters  of  the  various  ordei-s  hti^ve  given  testimony 
before  the  eyes  of  ^he  astounded  and  edified  pagans  of 
the  power  of  Christian  love,  by  their  unceasing  labors  in 
hospitals,  orphanages,  and  schooM.  Many  of  these  mis- 
sionaries met  a  martyr's  death  ;  some  in  bloody  persecu- 
tion,, otliers  in  the  excess  of  privation  and  of  labor.  But 
the  gapJ^left  by  these  are  soon  filled  up,  for  Catholic  Eu- 
rope still  sends  its  noblest  and  most  disinterested  sons  as 
missionaries  to  the  Orient,  so.  that  unbroken  armies  of 
n^  heroes  of  the  faith  take  the  places  of  the  victors  who 
have  gone  to  rest. 


14.  The  History  of  the  Church  in  Africa. 

"Before  him  the  Ethippians  shall  fall  down.  He  shall  deliver 
the  poor  from'the  mi<2:hty;  aud  the  needy  ihat  had  no  helper."— 
Psalm  Jxxi. 

St.  Mark  the  Evangelist  had  himself  founded  a  Chris- 
tian congregation  with  a  bishop  at  its  head  in  Alexandria, 
the  chief  city  of  Egypt.  Very  soon  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing school  was  established  herq,,  iind  the  renown  of  its 
learned  and  pious  professors  gathered  about  them  in  great 
numbers  from  every  i)art  of  Egypt  and  Asia  Minor  eager, 
and  docile  disciples,  whom  they  conducted  through  the 
paths  of  pagan  knowledge  into  the  realms  of  trud  wisdqm 
and  faith.  The  Church  made  such  riipid  progress  ih 
Egypt  that  aboiit  the  year  300  there  were  more  than-one 
hundred  bishops  in  that  land. 

The  faith  having  been  carried  from  Rome  into  the' 
north-western  pqrtions  of  Africa,  Carthage  here  became 
the  centre  of  Catholicity.     From  this  point  the  light  and 
warmth  of  the  true  faith  radiated  with  such  good  effect 
that  an  African  priest.  Tertullian.  nonid  kay  to  the  pngans 


HISTORY   OF  THE   CHtFRCH   IN   AFRICA. 


61 


h 


as  early  as  the  year  200:  "  We  Christians  are  of  but  yester- 
day, yet  we  occupy  all  the  places  once  filled  by  you^the 
islands,  cities,  villages,  council-halls,  and  military  camps. 
We.  constitute  the  majority  in  every  city."  About  the 
year  330  this  north-west  part  of  Africa,  together  with 
Abyssinia,  counted  more  than  three  hundred  bishops. 
.  In  the  ye^r  429,  when  the  rude  Vandals  under  their 
king  Genserich  came  to  Africa,  a  series  of  terrible  persecu- 
tions overtook  the  Church,  which  lost  vast  numbers;  till 
finally,  in  533,  the  Greek  cpmmander  Belisarius  overthrew 
the  Vandal  power  and  re-established  the  authority  of  the 
^Eoman  empire.  But  again  in  the  seventh  century  Mo- 
•  hammedanism  invaded  Egypt  and  most  parts  af  Korthern 
Africa,  and  buried,  as  it  did  the  Church  in  Asia,  the  once 
flourishing  African  Church  out  of  sight. 

But  the  memory  of  this  once  vigorous  branch  of  the 
Church  of  God  has  never  faded  from  the  minds  of  Euro- 
pean Christians.  All  through  the  middle  ages,  men  zeal- 
ous forthe^jalvation  of  souls  made  repeated  efforts  to 
revivT  the^kn'owledge  of  the  Gospel  in  Africa.  Thiis,  in 
the  year  1212,  five  companions  of  St.  Francis  Assissi 
went  with  this  intention  to  Morocco;  but  all  the  fruit  of 
their  efforts  consisted  in  their  own  martyrdom.  Similar 
efforts  to  the  same  purpose  wore  made  by  the  zealous  Ray- 
mond Lullus,  who,  not  satisfied  with  training  young  men 
in  Europe  to  become  apostles  to  the  Mohammedan  Sara- 
cens, went  himself  three  times  to  Africa,  where  finally,  on 
his  third  apostolic  visitation,  he  purchased  with  his  blood 
at-  Tunis,  in  1315,  the  long-desired  and  ardently  sought 
crown  of  martyrdom. 

In  later  ages  we  again  discover  the  sons  of  St.  Fi-ancis, 
the  Capuchins,  as  missionaries  in  Africa,  both  on  the 
eastern  coast,  m  Mozambique,  Monomotapa,  and  Quiloa, 
tod  on  the  western  coast,  in'  Congo,  Angola,  Benguela, 
and  in  the  islands  of  Bourbon  and  of  France. 
-^^ We  see  in  the  year  1838  a  bishopric  in  Algiers,r  wJilch^-^ 


62 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


becomes  an  archbishopric  in  18G7.  Later,  also,  three  sees 
were  established  in  the  towns  of  Oran,  Constantine,  and 
Ceuta;  and  we  also  find  missionary  stations  in  Egypt, 
Abyssinia^in  Central  Africa,  and  along  the  coasts,  at 
the  various, trading-posts. 

But  alas !  what  are  these  few  struggling  institutions, 
comprising  as  they  d^  only  four  and  a  half  millions  of 
Catholics  under  tbe  guidance  of  twenty-four  bishops  or 
apostolic  vicars,  in  comparison  with  the  glory  of  this  same 
African  Church  in  early  times,  when  five  hundred  and 
fifty  native  bishops  could  assemble  at  one-  time  in  Car- 
thage ! 


15-  What  America  owes  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

"  Who  in  times  past  are  not  a  people,  hitt  are  now  the  people  of 
God:  who  lind  not  obtained  mercy,  but  now  have  obtained  mercy. 
I  beseecli  you  that  having  your  conversation  good  among  the  infi- 
dels, whereas  they  speak  against  you  as  evil-doers,  they  may  by 
the  good  works  which  they  shall  behold  in  you,  glorify  God  in'tlie 
day  of  visitation."—!  Peter  ii.  10. 

The  very  name  of  America  ought  to  fill  the  soul  of 
e^very  Catholic  with  joy  and  holy  i)rido.  To  the  Catholic 
Church  America  owes  her  discovery,  her  civilization,  and, 
for  the  most  part,  her  civil  liberty  and  independence 
in  the  United  States.  Thus  our  beloved  Church  has 
justly  earned  for  herself  the  most  indisputable  right  to 
exist  in  the  new  as  well  as  in  the  old  world. 

The  discoverer  of  America,  Christopher  Columbus,  was 
a  son  of  the  ancient  Church,  and  indeed  a  loyal,  devout, 
and  practical  member  of  that  Communion.  The  motive 
which  first  inspired  him,  and  led  him  on  to  his  successful 
discovery,  was  a  truly  Catholic  motive.  In  his  last  will 
and  testament  this  devoted  son  of  the  Church  ex})re8sly  re- 
quired his  son  ^ego,  or  whomsoever  should  become  his 
heir,  to  be  prepared  to  offer  his  person,  his  influence,  and 


WHAT   AMEl^ICA   OWES   TO   THE   CHURCH. 


63 


his  wealth  in  defence  of  the  rights  of  the  Holy  See,  in 
case  an  attempt  should  ever  be  made  to  alienate  this  por- 
tion of  God's  vineyard  from  the  Vicar  of  Christ.  He  re- 
quired his  son,  moreover,  to  spare  no  cost  nor  labor  in 
bringing  the  Indians  to  a  knowledge  of  the  true  faith. 
Hv^  also  assures  us  that  it  was  the  wish  of  his  heart  at  all 
times  to  see  the  revenues  derived  from  his  newly  discov- 
ered country  employed  by  his  sovereigns  in  redeeming  the 
holy  city  of  Jerusalem  from  the  dominion  of  the  pagans. 

2- 


Christopher  Columbus. 

Catholic  priests  were  the  iruest  friends  and  best  aids  to 
Columbus.  He  informs  us:  "When  I  was  ^object  of 
ridicule  to  all,  two  monks  remained  steadfast  in  -their 
devotion  to  me  and  my  cause. "  These  were  the  Franciscan 
friar  Percy  de  Marchcna  and  the  Dominican  Diego  Deza. 
And  for  all  the  learning  and  science  which  led  him  to 
the  discovery  of  the  Now  World,  was  he  not  ind-ebted 
1Q  l^lg,  ^{itholio  Cliu  schools,  ttnd4»= 


» 


I 


lu 


ijl 


(54 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


educational  establishments  founded  and  sustained  by  that 
Church  ?      • 

■  Besides  claiming  the  honor  of  having  discovered 
America,  the  Church  rightly  lays  claim  to  the  honor  of 
civilizing  Its  people.  She  was  the  first  to  succeed  in 
obtaining  gentle  treatment,  and  indeed  freedom  itself 
for  the  native  Americans.  In  1537  Pope  Paul  the  Third 
declared  m  an  apostolic  brief  that  the  native  Indians  of 


Bartholomew  de^SijCasaa. 


America  were  really  and  truly  free  men  who  should  not 
be  reduced  to  slavery. 

Throughout  the  four  hundred  years  that  have  well- 
nigh  elapsed  since  the  cross  of  Christ  was  first  planted  in 
American  soil,  the  Church  has  continued  to  send  forth 
from  European  linds,  heroes  of  faith  and  charity  to  bring 
the  native  Indians,  as  well  as  the  bold  Eui-opean  pioneers, 
into  a  state  of  civilization.  Who  does  not  knpw,  and 
honor,  and  bless  the  name  of  that  noble  son  of  the  Church, 
the  illustrious  Dominican  monk,  Father  Bartholo.raew  de 


% 


I 


T 


WHAT   AMERICA   OWES   TO   THE   CHURCH. 


65 


las  Casas?    Five  times  this  intrepid  and  devoted  priest  of 
God  crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  in  order  to  announce  the 
glad  tidings  of  eternal  salvation  to  his  beloved  children,  as 
he  was  wont  to  call  the  Indians.     Five  times  he  returned 
to  Spain  in  order  to  plead  the  red  man's  cause,  in  words 
and  writing,  before  the  monarchs  and  great  ones  of  tlj* 
kingdom;  to  save  his  Indians  from  oppression,   slavery, 
and  even  threatened  extinction.     With  inexpressible  pain 
'  disappointment,  he  saw  all  his  efforts  towards  obtain- 
"i-eedom  for  the  natives  rendered  abortive  by  the  avarice 
ireachery  of  the  S})anish  authpi^ties  in  America.     He 
fore  resolved,  as  simple  missioitiry,  to  conduct  the  sons 
the  "forest  at  least  to  the  freedom*  of  the  children  of  God. 
For  this  purpose  he  plunged  into  the  vast  and  intricate 
forests   of  the    unknown    country,    and    continued    his 
■  laborious  and  exhausting  search  after  souls  up  to  a  feeble 
old  age.     His  nights  he  passed  in  the  open  air,  in  lonely 
supplication  for  the  blessings  of  heaven  to  descend  upon 
his  poor  friendless  Indians.     His  days  were  spent  in  their 
rude  wigwams  or  at  their  public  gatherings,  where  he  spoke 
earnestly  and  eloquently  to  the  wondering  savages  about 
a  true  fatherland  and  supernatural  home,  Avhere,  after  the 
trials  and  tribulations  of  this  life,  they  would  enjoy  free- 
dom and  happiness  forever.     He  was  called  to'  his  own 
true  home  o^jf^dom  and  peace  in  15GG,  in  the  ninety- 
second  vear  of  1^  age.'' 

Finally,  we  fear  not  to  assert  that  the  irresistible 
advances  of  America  towards  religious  and  civil  liberty  are 
due  to  the  influence  and  actfon  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
,  Its  members  Wei-e  the  first  to  set  the  example  of  religious 
toleration  and  of  unrestricted  liberty  of  conscience.  .  Lord 
Baltimore,  the  founder  of  the  first  settlement  within  the 
State  of  Maryland,  himself  ,a  Catholic,  "promulgated 
religious  freedom  to  all  settlei-s  in  the. colony.  This  vas 
in  the  year  1649,  at  ^^time  when  the  Protestant  authorities 
of  the  other.  AmericaaJgolonies  were  enacting^niil  dpcmna  _ 


■■:;wr- 


^:: 


66 


'i 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


of  banishment,  of  mutilation,   and  even  of  death  itself 
against  all  Catholics  Venturing  Avithin  the  boundaries  of 
their  jurisdiction.     From  1776  to  1783,  in  the  war  against 
Great  Britain  for  American   Independence,  fervent  aird 
edifying  Catholics  were  found  in  the  front  ranks  and  in 
.      the   most  honorable    and    gallant    .positions.     It   was  a 
•      Catholic  who- led  the  Americans  in  their  first  naval  battle, 
on  the  11th  of  May,  1775.     John  Barry,  a  Catholic  from 
Ireland,   was  the  founder  of   the  United   States   Navy. 
Washington's  first  adjutant,  Gehera^  Stephen  Moylan,  was 
a  son  of  Catholic   Ireland.     Catholic   priests   lent  their 
peaceful  efforts  to  the  success  of  Independence.      Father 
John    Carroll  went  on   an   embassy  to  the  Catholics  of 
Canada,  and  secured  to  no  small-extent  their  syinj)atliy 
for  the  cause,  and  a  valuable  neutrality,  if  not  an  active, 
co-gi)eration.      The  patriotic  Father  Gibault  was  the  first 
to  pronounce  a  blessing  on  the  American  flag  and  mingle 
holy  water    with    the   '' Stars'  and    Stripes."      Catholic 
P^ranee,  "the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Chundi,"  contributed 
not  only  her  armies,  commanded  by  brave  and  competent 
generals,  but  also  many  millions  of  money,  as  well  as  the 
incalculable  moral  support  of  her  immense  infiuence  with 
the  other  nations  on  the  Continent  of  Euro])o.     Catholic 
gentlemen,  such    as   Thomas    Fitzsimmons   and    Charles 
Carroll   of   Carrollton,    y^)vc    eminently    instrumental   in 
,     btinging   to   a   hi\\)\)y  |ind    ))eaceful    union    the   thirteen 
^•colonies.     Was'hington  himself,  after,  the  proclamation  of 
peace- and   tnum])h,   did*,  not  hesitate  to  i)ay  a  generoHs, 
thougih well-deserved,  compliment  f>)  these  Catholics,     In 
his  reply  to  an  addrtfss  ten*J(Ted  by  them,  the  great  general 
said  that  "the  country  could  never  forget  the  patriotic 
stand  assumed  by  the  Catholics  of  America  jind  France, 
nor  the  invahuibh>  assistance  which  tliev  had  contributed 


towards  the  inde])endence  of  tlie  colonies."- 


"iA^ 


THE  CHURCH  PLANTED  IN  AMERICA. 


67 


i6.  The  Church  planted  in  America.    Its  Growth. 


'^«4. 


'  These  were  men  of  mercy.  whoSe#aif'  deeds  have  not  failed 
Their  posterity  are  a  holy  hiheritunce,  aad  their  children  for  their 
sakes  remain  forever,  and  their  name  liveth  unto  generation  and 
genei-ation."— Eccm;sia8ticu8  xliv. 


After  this  hasty  general  glance  at  the  sacred  and  close 
relations  between  the  Clmrch  of  Christ  and  America,  th6 
land  of  the  future,  let  us  direct  our  attention  towards  those 
noble  and  venerated  missionaries,  and  contemplate  the 
labors  of  those  holy  men  who,  by  their  supernatural  zeal, 
faith,  and  charity,  have  proved  that  the  life  of  Christ  can 
be  [)rolpn^ed  even  iji  the  New  World. 

To-day  the  two  continents  of  North  and  South  America 
contain  upwards  of  lifty-four  millions  of  European  emi- 
grants, Chinese,  and  Africans,  with  some  twenty  millions 
of  Indians  and  mixed  breWs,  the  groat  majority  of  whoip 
li(>l()ng  to  the  Catholic  Church.  So  devoted  to  Catholicity 
are  the  Indians  in  some  sections  that  a  recent  and  well- 
infortned  writer  has  inscribed  upon  a  mountain-rock  the 
following  sentiment  concerning  certain  tribes:  "  Wiicn  men 
shy  that  these  savages  are  simply  religious,  they  convey  but 
a  very  imperfect  idea  of  the  deep-seated  piety  and  tidelity 
pervading  their  whole  lives.  .T hey  are  more  a  nation  of 
saints  tiian  a  herd  of  wild  savages. "  To  save  the  emigrant 
from  loss  of  faith,  to  guard  him  against  the  temptation  of 
the  proselyter,  and  to  teiich  and  baptize  the  Indian,  has 
been  the  chief  labor  of.  Hie  At7ieri.t^an  missionary.  So 
.blessed,  by  Provid^ence  have-these  labors  been  t)iat  the  life 
^of  Clirist  has,  been  continued  in, the  wilds  of  America, 
reaching  its  highest  perfection  in  the  serai)hic  and  virginal 
.«<>nl  of  St.  Roseof  Lima. 

The  very  first  Xoar  following  th(*discovery  by  Columbus, 
twelve  })riests  with  the  Benedictine  abbot.  Father  Bermird 
Boyle,  set  out,  like  the  twelve  npostlcs  n»(b>r  flic  leaderuhip 


mt^sm 


mMmmm 


I-l' 


!iii 


ti:    ( 


i 


i. 

t 


i 


t 


m 


-<.■■..,„ 


A   MISSIONARY    IN   AMERICA. 


6« 


.> 


ik. 


.  ,  THE  CIIOKCH  PIA-NTED  IN  AMEKICA.  69 

tfLl':^"  '""'f »  '"'■"I'-'^^d  year,  before,  and  grossed 
'       .'f  "V  '»  ■"'ten-ltl.e  kingdom  gf  Christ.     Ou  the 

6  h  „f  Jannarj,  U94,  tl,eyJi!c«Hl,  on  the  Island  of  Hayti 
the  hrst  rnde  temple  of  theM^st  High  in  the  New  Word 
Ihese  were  soon  afterwards  followed  by  the  Sons  of  St' 
mrr"?  °S«'-,  "»""'-•     B'>"l-  nLt  numel  and 

rC  t  n?  Th  ;  T  ""^  '''^^-8»™«1  '"'lowers  of  St. 
lgn,.tms  The  Jesuits  were  the  first  to  penetrate  into  the 
ren^tos  parts  „,  the  forests  :  the  first  to  reach  eaeh  ind 
,  even,  tube  of  ad.ans';  the  Hrst  to  plant  the^oss  in  the 
w^  erncs^  and  to  ponr  out  their  warm  life's-blood  at    t 

Chn  M      ';         "'"'  "''"'""'•  '"  "'^  '"^'"-^  o'  the  life 

Toil      T  ,!T,,  r"  "r\r  "'^  "'■S'"-P''S'^  °f  Ameriea's 

"c  y  American  proy.nce,  presents  to  us  the  picture  of  a 

"Ul-  ovmg  Catholic  missionary,  laboring  fi,,t  to  erect  his 

,.,.h.„nhle  chapel,  and  then  hTs  own  lowlj  home  and    hen 

gathenng  about  him  the  sons  of  the  forit,  rehWrr  e  '  J  ' 

he  poor  but  devout  and  generous  settlers  from  the  old 

begjnni  ig  „.„„,  transformed  into  a  centre  of  wealth  »nd 

-^"r;"" ■■--of tiLti  nT^ai'r    , 

t      M,  "'«''  "'"  l'«n>lcxing  woodlan,ls  and  over 

>l).    lonely,,  pathless,   boundless    prairies.     They  ford   the 

smt'^i:  "*";;"  ';""•  ""■'  "™™  "'»  impetuo:    r        ad 

"         ,  k"    '';:,  ™".-"""  or  on  the  t«^her„us  float 

d  h  ;,      ^'^        '",  "'" ''  »"l'--'"""™l  -nergy  against  cold 

again  rif';'""  '  ""'•  "'^'K- "-1  ,llness,'«,d  often, 

sa^gr     '  ""■  "-^"i^''"'-)"""!  ".urderous  designs«f  the 

sole":!,:,;- 2'  .'';^„"^  ""■*. ■'>■  '"i-ionaries,  with  the 


exc('|iJ,ion  of  (h 


■eynt,  ditHi  a  natural  ,ie.tth.  or  fourul 


;•  "I'ostic  of   Hru/il,    PWher  Antony 


jiJM.  resting-place 


\% 


^         *' 


70 


CHRIST   IN' HIS   CHURCH. 


in  soil  consecrated  bj  the  blessings  of  the  Church.  Some, 
like  Father  Marquette,  the  diseoverer  of  the  Mississippi 
Eiver,  sinking  beneath  the  crushing  wejght  of  their  labors,; 
lay  down  and  died  peacefully  in  the  wilderness,  sur- 
rounded only  by  their  afflicted  companions,  who  theii  dug' 
the  missionary's  grave  nnder  some  majestic  tre.e  or  near 
the  bank  of  a  stream,  and  went  awuy,  leaving  tlie  place  of 
sepulture   silen^t   and.  lonely.     Others   met   death  at  the 


i   ■ 


Father  Marquette. 

be^^ide  of  the  plague-stricken  Indian,  offering  up  their 
lives  to  God  as  lin  accej)table  sacrifice  of  charity.  Among 
these  were  the  venoratod  Fathers  Dablon  and  Turgis. 
Many  died  in  the  silent  de-i)ths  of  the  forests,  unseen  by 
any  eye  save  (iod's  :  tlieir  bodies  becoming  a  ])rcy  to  the 
birds  of  the  air.  'JV)  many,  too,  was  vouchsafed  the  more 
glorious  death  of  the  martyr.  Among  these  were  the  ven- 
erable FathenK'orpo.-Souel,  (^habanel,  T^bourde,  HrebaMif, 
Lallemand,  tyid  otiiers,  who  either  fell  before  the  piercing, 


THE  CHURCH  PLANTED  IN  AMERICA. 


n 


poisoned  arrow  of  the  savage  or  were  treacherously  and 
Wnexpectedly  assaafcinated,  or  else  were  burnt  at  the  stake, 
surrounded  only  by  the  untamed=  redskins,  who  in  their^ 
hideous  war-cry  drowned  the  feeble  words  of  prayer  uttered 
by  the  dying  saints.  Th6  soil  of  the  great  State  of  New 
York  wa*  consecrated  by  the  bloed  of  Father  Jogues. 

The  most  striking  evidence  of  what  might  have  been 
attained  by  self-sacrificing  and  disinterested  missionaries 
was  seen  in  the  "reductions"  of  the  Jesuits  on  the- river 
La  Plata  in  Paraguay.     Like  the  monks  of  old  in  Europe, 
after  the  devastating  incursions  of  the  Northmen,  these 
,  intrepid  Jesuits  conceived  the  plan  not  only  of  coiM!prting 
the  Indians  to- the  Christian  faith,  but  to  organize  them 
'     mto    free,    independent,    cultivated,    civilized    nations. 
Their  grand  enterprise  received  the  approbation  and  aid 
.      of  Philip  the  Third  of  Spain  in  the  year  1610.     During 
the  next  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  about  thirty  ''re- 
ductions," or  colonizations  of   Indians,  were  set  on  foot, 
and  established  on  a  wise  basis.     Under  the  admirable 
management    of    the    indefatigable    Jesuits,    the    rude 
Indians  were  trained  to  aigriculturo  and  the  traces,  and    *" 
even  to  the  arts.     Even  the  scienoe  of  civilized  warfare 
was  not  neglected,  for  the  peaceful  Jesuits  drilled  them 
m  the  art  and  mode  of  using  all  warlike  weapons  for  the 
purpose  of  self-defe^agajnst  aggressive  neighbors.'    The 
miasionaries- were'  alWnce  teachers,  priests,  fathers,  and 
:  riiagistrates/or  the  Indians,  who  were  here  gradually  made 
J  to  adapt  themselves  fo  the  observance'of  correct  morality,      ' 
^^oderation  and  the  ways  of  civilized  domestic  life.    The 
MSservance  of  ^law  was  further  as^sted  by  the  establish- 
^  mfent  of  pious-^oci^tions.     In  iSferedibly^or|  space 
of  .time  the  world    saw   these   dlpaveda#  degraded 
superstitious    savages    transformed'  int^|fepAtle,    chas  "^ 
patient,  pious  Cliristian  communRies.    ^^       '  . 

Would  you  now  desire,  Cliristian  reader,  to  know  the  ? 
rd^ults  of  all   these  apostolical    labontf    T.o±  the  works 


# 


<a^ 


\'-'^ 


1 

i 

.1 

li 

m 

ill 

'■^. 


^ 


>      .« 


72 


«• 


CHRIST  IN 

1^  speak  for  themselves,  'i 
w  drals,  the  tens  of  thou 
hfthe  counties^  clokters  a 
ofl^ell-o 


ns  c|:uRCH. 

le/'mi 


i^f 


'Hie  most  fem^ 
in  the*  Unii 


;uous  cathe- 
and  small, 
e  hundreds 
,-,  -    ^,        3,  ^f^Ta^sFeaJ*^^  more  than 

#{ty  m^l^s  of )ppuls,.fl- North,,  Centkl,  and  South 
'■«'j|#ricaj'^M*too,'in  \cy9W  with  the  'Vfer  of  Christ, 

^  «^  Holy  ;^^iej^  the  Po^^  D|^yiM^^tfphe  numbers 
*""'git)Vi^;,^piore  ai||^,n]^B:s|^fciij[y.   -;:->?"^,  „  ' 

;%inc>«fe|||p^|(ipity  has  taken 

!tate6fe.lsf^ih-''Aerica.     In  t 

saM'TgO  theSe  Stkte9:^cdiitmed  only  three  millions,©: 

Sttabitants,  of  whom  about  fifty  thousand,  o^  the'  one 

V  sixtieth  part,  were  Ca4^(Jlics.    ^n  the  yearlSSO,  the  Church 

I  ^"  *^^,  Uni^^ed  States  canted  6,200,000  Catholics  in  eleveii^ 

?  archdioceses,  for^y-eig^:dioceses,  eight  apostolic  vicariates,' 

and  two  apostolic  pref^res,  with  about  5000  priests,  6000 

churches  and  chapels,  6(^  colleges  and  academies,,  and  350 

.  chaHtable  institutions.    ^: 

.       The  first  permanent  or|knization  of  the  Catholics  of  the 

^ State  of  New  York  into  ^,  congregation  took  place  about 

;  ["nSS,  yith  the  Irish  Franciscan, 'Father  Charles  Wheelan, 

'  ■  as  pastor.     This  congregation,  which  laid  the  foundation- 

s^ne  of  the  first  Catholic  church  in  New  York,  St.  Peter's, 

lias  since  developed  like  the  grain  of  mustardiseed  into 

,  countless  parishes,  several  bishopric?,  and  even  a  cardjnal- 

a,te  of  the  Holy  Roman  Church.  ^ 

The  first  bishop  in  the  United  States  was  Doctor  John 
Carroll>  a  man  distinguishe^or  his  piety, 'wisdom,  and 
energy.  ■  In  the  year  1792  he  held  in  Baltimore  the  first 
synod  of  tha  Catholic  Chnrch  in  the  United  States. 
Besides  himself,  there  ^e  present'  his  three  vicars,  the 
director  of  his  aeminarA|||d  sixteen  other' priests.  Sev- 
\enty-four  years  later,  J|Bctoher,  1866,  at  the  Plehary 
CJouncil  of  Baltii^lmflptop  Carrol Vs  successor  was  at- 
teVded  by  seven  a JHP^s,  tliirty-six  bishops^nd  many 
priests.       ^ 


^  ' "  •' 


:\ 


V'^m'^ 


HISTORY  OF  the"  CHURCH  IN  AUSTRALIA.  73 

The  whole, of  America  counts  about  seventy-four  mil- 
hons  of  inhabitants,  of  whoril  about  forty-^hree  millions 
or  nearly  two-thil-a^  are  Catholics.     , 


17.  The  History  of  t^ie  Church  in  Australia, 

/ 

"For  God  who  cbmmanded  tire  light  \o  shine  out  of'  darkness 
himself  hath  shined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the^ight  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  glory  of  God."^2  CoiuNTniANs  iv.  6. 

The  history  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Australia,  al- 
though showing  forth^thff  Life  of  Christ  as  still  continued 
m  the  Mystical  Body,  throughout' every  portion  o^  the 
world,  does  not  present  4s-.briiliant  a  picture'as  we  have 
discovered  in   tlmt  portion   of   the  vineyard   planted  in 
America.     Although  th6  chief  portion  of  that  country  has' 
been  known  to  t:uropeans  since  1616,  and  although  the 
bishopric   of  Manila  had   been   established  ninety' years 
earlier  on  one  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  it  was  not  till' 
within  the  present  century  that  the  Church  made  any  per- 
ceptible progress  in  that  remote  land.  ^  The  insalubrity  of 
the  climate,  in  many  places  so  bad  that  the  inhabitants 
could  not  survive  for  a  great  number  of  years,  but  more 
especially  the  persistent  opposition  of  Methodist  traders 
and  speculators,  who  were  growing  rich  on  the  ignorance 
of  the  natives,  formed  an  almost  insuperable  barri^er  to  the 
efforts  of  Catholic  missionaries.     Yet  the  blood  of.  some 
martyrs,  such  as  the  venerable  Fathers  0>ianel  and  Mbz- 
znconi,  Bishop  JJpal,  and  others,  has  Vatered  Australia's 
soil  and  become  the  seed  of^  Christianity. 

In  West  Australia  the  flourishing  and  extensive  mis- 
sions of  the  Benedictines  give  promise  of  great  success  in 
tife  future.  The-Spanish  Benedictine,,  Salrado,  Bishop  of 
torto  Victoria,  and  Serra,  Bisliap  of  Perth,  accompanied 
by  forty  members  of  their  Order,  plunged  into  the  depths 
,oIJhn  i:riumovtf-fm-^»i4vvf«lFH4Ttr^Titrr-o^  a  ^eTT 


>•• 


74 


CHEIST   IN   HIS   CHUECH. 


Nursia,  as  a  nucleus  of  future  civilization.  What  was  con- 
sidered in  Eih-ope  an  impossibility  became  a  reality 
under  the  indomitable  zeal  and  perseverance  of  the  Sons 
of  St.  Benedict.  The  savage  aborigines  withdrew  in  great 
numbers  from  their  wild  nomadic  mode  of  life,  and  under 
the  mild  and  intelligent  direction  of  the  monks  learned  to 
till  the  soil,  acquired  a  variety  of  trades,  and  to-day  they 
constitute  a  model  colony  of  religious,  civilized  people.  A 
Protestant  clergyman  who  had  visited  the  settlement  avers 
that  what  he  saw  there  reminded  him  forcibly  of  the  early 
ages  of  Christianity. 

At  the  present  time  this  continent  of  Oceanica,  com- 
prising New  Zealand  and  other  islands  large  and  small, 
numbers  about  half  a  million  of  Catholics,  governed  and 
taught  by  soke  twenty-th;-ee  bishops  or  apostolic  vicars, 
and  a  large  body  of  zealous,  self-sacrificing  priests. 


r     i8.   The  Catholic  Worl(?. 

"Thousands  of  thousands  ministered  to  him,  and  ten  thousand 
times  a  hundred  thousand  stood  l^ore  him.  He  was  given  a  king- 
dom, and  all  peoples,  tribes,  and  tfti|ue3  shall  serve  him."— Daniel 
vii. 

If  we  cast  a  glance  at  the  condition  of  the  Catholic 
Church  at  the  present  day,  we  discover  that  it  numbers 
in  Europe  one  hundred  ^nd  forty-six  million  souls  ;  in 
Asia,  counting  the  adjacent  islands,  about  three  millions  ; 
in  America,  forty-three  millions  ;  and  in  Australia,  about 
half  a  million  of  souls.  In  i^gard  to  the  number  of  her 
chief  pastors  and  rulers,  we  learn  from  the  official  register 
of  May  1st,  1870,  that  at  the^|]cumenical  Council^  ^he 
Vatican  in  Rome  there  were 'present  fifty-one  Cardina)s, 
eleven  Patriarchs,  ten  i*rimates,  oA'e  hundred  and  six£y-six 
Archbishops,  and  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nin^Bishops. 
_    '^^^^.  j^g:^-  9^-^^!^ -°^^"^.^^s<^64  himself  to  all. the  peoples 


t 


THE   CATHOLIC   WORLD. 


75 


■v 


of  the  earth :  thus  has  he  founded  and  built  up  his 
Church,  This  glorious  universal  kingdom  numbers  two 
hundred  millions  of  faithfal  laity,  under  the  guidance  of 
more  than  one  hundred  thousand  chief  pastors,  and  nearly 
three  hundred  thousand  priests,  missionary  and  secular. 
Besides,  it  counts  more  than  seven  thousand  Eeligious 
Htyises,  with  one  hundred  thousand  Religious  men,  and 
above  nine  thousand  convents  with  one  hundred  and  ten 
thousand  Religious  women,   all  serving  God  under  the 


The  Kingdo 


evangelical  counsels  of  voluiwte'f'iroverty,  unlimited  obe 
dience,  {\nd  holy  virginity,  and  steadily  advancing  in  the 
ways  of  Christian  ])erfection. 

What  a  glorious  kingdorn  !  How  immense  in  its  ex- 
tent !  Yet  how  well  proportioned,  and  how  clo^ly  con- 
nected and  beautifully  co-oi'dinate  its  many  members! 
All  set  in  motion  and  ,'^piritnal  life  by  Jesus  Christ,  gov- 
erned and  guided  by  one  visible  Chief  Shepherd,  the  In- 
^^^^'''If^  J'ope.  -It .is.  lllumiiiatQd  by  th«  ift«xi4ftgt»^table 


^.( 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


h    "' 


!>■  \ 


^  of  one  only  faith,  inflamed  and  vivified  by  the  fires 
universal  Christian  charity.  It  is  governed  by  the  un- 
disputed and  undisputable  authority  of  the  same  divine 
eternal  law.  It  is  animated  into  active  healthful  life  by 
the  /even-fold  power  of  one  and  the  same  divine  grace  in 
J^ASMH^'^^''^^-  ^^  'i^^'^^es  a  renewed  vitality  and 
cogaffrorihe  li*ingfountain  of  the  one  same  Sacrifice 
of  the  Mass.>  Its  members  dre  tending  towards  one  and 
the  same  goal,  eternal  happiness  in  lieavel^,  Verily  noc 
such  kingdom  hath  ever  been1)uilt  by  the  hand  of  mortal 
man.     It  is  without  a  parallel  in  history. 

Such  is  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  of  the  King  of  all 
kings,  of  our  most  adorable,  most  loving  and  iS^able  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  (^rist ;  the  glorious  Church  of  Eome 
Even  to-day,  upon  this  earth,  he  continues  to  live  in  his 
'  Mys^c  Body,'S^r  worthy  faithful  member^  still  live  the 
Life  of  ChristXHe  is  ind»  the  real  and  %ly  glorious  ' 
Solomon  of  whom  the  Psalmist  sings  :  ''  Andlfchall  con-  ' 
tinue  wUb^flie  sun,  and  before  the  moon,'  thrSfoout  all 
genepjitions.      In   his  days  shall  justice  springjfc  and 
abundance  of  peace,  till  the  n^pon  be  taken  aw^"*  And 
^h^hall  rule  from  sea  to  sea,  aM  from  the  river  unto  K 
endiof  the  eaith.     Before  hiiu  the  Ethiopians  shall  falf " 
^down,  and  his  enemies  shall  lick  the  ground.     The  kings 
of  Tharsis  and  the  islands  shall  offer  presents  ;  the  kings 
of  the  Arabians  and  of  Saba  shall  bring  gifts ;  and  all 
kings  o^^he  eartl^halUdore  him,  all  nations  shall  serve 
him,  and<lhe-|j^ole  eartytall^e  fiHed  with  his  majesty." 
'^^^^^Pftv"^  J^sus  h^s  b^nt  up  for  himself.     He  con- 
Is,  .sEfflid  all  the  .opposition  and   persecution  of  the 
Mm  it^up,  and  to  maintain  it  day  by  day,  not* 


Why  have  the  Gentiles  raged,  and  the  people  devised 
Tain  things  ?  The  kings  of  the  earth  stood  up,  and  the 
princes  met  together,  against  the  Lord,  and  against  his 
Christ.     Let  iig  break  their  bonds  asunder,  and  let  us 


#. 


THE   CATHOLIC    WORLD. 


77 


cast  away  their  yoke  from  us.  He  that  dwelleth  in  heaven 
shall  laugh  at  them,  and  the  Lord  shall  deride  them.  But 
I  am  ai)pointed  king  by  him  over  Sion,  his  holy  mountain. 
I  will  give  thee  the  Gentiles  for  thy  inheritance,  and  the 
utmost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  possession." 

In  this  kingdom  Christ  lives  and  reigns,  and  carries 
out  his  work  of  I^edemption  in  a  miraculous,  mysterious, 
and  real  efficacy,  and  he  will  do  so  till  the  end  of  time. 
Blessed'  be  the  name  of  his  majesty  forever ;  the  whole 
earth  shall  be  filled  with  his  glory. 


{ 


^r"7' 


1  -.j^-^  •II 


CHAPTEE  III. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  CATHOLIC  WOR- 
SHIP. 


JESUS   CHKIST   LIVES   IK    HIS   CHURCH  AS   REDEEMER  AND 

HIGH-PKIEST. 


19.  What  is  Catholic  Worship  ? 

"Let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice,  and  give  glory  to  God :  for  the  mar 
riage  of  the  Lamb,"  that  is  to  say,  Jesus  Christ,  "is  come,  and  his 
wife,"  that  is  to  say.  the  Church,  "hath  prepared  herself.  Blessed 
are  they  that'are  called  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb."— Apoc- 
alypse xix.  7  et  seq. 

"TESUS  CHRIST  having  established  his  kingdom  for  all 
^  ages  and  places  in  this  world,  air  men  are  really  his 
subjects;  indeed  they  truly  and  actually  belong  to  him;  for, 
as  high-priest  and  victim,  he  has  purchased  them  by  his 
bleeding  sacrifice  on  the  cross.  And  as  he  thu8  made  them 
his  own  at  the  expense  of  his  life's  blood,  he  m^ntains  his 
right  to  own  them  continually  ;  for  he  is  constantly  renew- 
ing his  sacrifice,  and  thus  continues  to  live  in  liis  Church  . 
as  high-priest  for  all  time.  Hence  the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass 
IS  the  chief  centre  or  focus  of  Christian  worship  ;  and  Christ 
is  himself  the  sacrificing  priest.  He  himself,  by  the  hand 
and  lips  of  the  priest,  renews  his  atoning  sacrificein  a  true 
and  real  manner,  and  makes  it  present  in  all  places. 
Through  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  moves  the 
authorities  of  the  Church  to  adorn  and  embellish  this  high- 
-?i4©stly  serviTO-«f  GtKl  with  symbdllcarcei^TSoti^^^ 


^  t-i 


PLACES  OF  WORSHIP. 


devotional  practices,   glorious  festivals,  and  sumptuous 
temples. 

Christian  worship  is  specially  the  continuation  of  the 
espousals  of  the  heavenly  bridegroom  with  his  bride,  of 
the  High-priest  with  his  Church.  It  is  their  mutual  and 
mysterious  interchange  of  love.  The  God-man  bridegroom 
gives  himself  to  his  spouse  through  the  sacrifice  of  liis 
sacramental  body  and  blood  in  the  Mass,  and  the  Church, 
his  spouse,  advancing  towards  the  High-priestly  bride- 
groom, gives  herself  to  him  by  that  adoration  and  homage 
of  love  so  clearly  expressed  in  her  ceremonies,  devout 
exercises,  festivals,  and  temples. 


20,   Places  of  Worship. 

"Indeed,  the  Lord  is  in  this  place!  How  terrible  is  this  place  ! 
this  is  no  other  but  the  house  of  God,  and  the  gate  of  heaven."— 
Genesis  xxviii.  16,  17. 

The  places  in  which  the  Apo&tles  and  their- first  succes- 
sors assembled  with  the  faithful  for  the  celebration  of 
divine  service  were  simple  rooms,  or  large  halls  in  private 
houses.  Many  among  the  wealthy  who  had  become  con- 
verted to  Christianity  were  glad  to  throw  open  their  dwell- 
ings for  the  gathering  of  the  small  congregations  of  early 
Christians.  But  very  soon  the  .persecutions  became  so 
.violent,,  that  the  faithful  found\ themselves  compelled  to 
retireto  obscure  and  secret  hiding-places  for  the  celebration 
of  the  sacred  mysteries — even  to  caverns,  cellars,  and  burial- 
places.  ,.'  "  ^ 

The  most  memorable  of  these  places  of  refuge  were  the 
Poman  catacombs:  immense  and  intricate  subterranean 
excavations,  in  which  the  Christians  of  the  first  three  cen- 
turies used  to  bury  their  d'dad,  and  especially  the  holy 
martyrs.  Into  these  gloomy  homes  of  the  dead  the  Chris-. 
tlfljlg,fl£d.in  times  6f=persecu4ie%r  and  b^re  they  excavated- 


■■"■  °^^=^^»^ 


I.    ■ 


l«     i 


1_L 


80 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


in  *J;lae  rocks  large  and  sometimes  very  richly  decorated 
clJiipels.  The  tomb  of  some  huly  martyr,  usually  formed 
th^  consecrated  alti^r-stone.  A  venerabLe  and  gray-haired 
maQ  stands  before  one  of  these  altars^in  the  act  of  offering 
sacrifice.  More  than  once  has  he 'buffered  for  the  "cause 
of  Christ,  and  even  now  l^e  bears  on  his  venerable  person 
the  marks  of  persecution,  ■'fhh  is  the  bishop  of  Home, 
who  has  gathered  about' him' in  the  silent  gloom  of  the 
catacombs  his  pious  and  faithful  flock,  vwhom  he  prepares 


Tombs  in  the  Catacombs. 


an<l  strengthens  against  impending  martyrdom,  by  impart- 
ing t.)  them  the  heavenly  BreaU^Jof  Life,,  /Fhc'/e  catacombs 
boneatii  tlie  aoil  of  Komo  were  the  subt<<^>rran('iyi,  woll-gnard- 
ed  rctroafs  where  tlie  warriors  of  Clirr-<t  used  to  arm  thom- 
selvos  withjhe  word  of  (|o(l,  sacrifice,  piUyor,  'nfuti^^l 
intercession  and  exliortations.  for  the  glorious  vict()ry' 
soon  to  Wwon  over  Itonto  itself  ;ibov(.  groui>#l,-  An4  lo, 
after  a  conflict  of  lUrcc  hundred  years,  the  oarJv  (Jliristiaas 
gained  the  day.  iViyer,  sacrific,..  i.^fl  m;u\vr'H^  bhi(^(t 
tnumphed.   Jloatlien  HJ>mo  fv\\,  uncl^  "jo  Jl'JHMNtr  ( W 


Mi 


% 


4 


k,      • 


\ 


.,    i 


•v  - 


V 


■«?; 


PLACES   OF   WORSHIP^. 


81 


stuntine  tlie  Great  exalted  the  bar!^er  of  the  Cross  above 
tlic  Koman  eaffle, 

Frbm  this  time' forward  we  everywhere  see,  both  in  the 
•east  and  in  the  west,  glorious  temples  of  stately  proportions 
and  of  various  styles  of  arehitccture*  rising  aloft  in  honor 
of  the  world's  "Redeemer.  The  usual  ground-plan  of  the 
early  Christian  church  was  in  the  form/^f  a  cross,  to  repre- 
sent the  ci'oss  of  Calvary.     Tiie  upper  and  shorter  i)ortion. 


t^, 


'  containing  the  clioir  and  tHeaUiir  of  sacrifice,  represented 

•  tlic  liciid  of.Clirist  ;  the  liirljjt-Mn.l   l<.n|^- sha|%>  occu^jrd 

•  I'.v  tlic  |)c()plc.  denoted  the  lK)dy  of  the  KMy.iir!  wliile  the 
-two- Wings,  onr  on  the  itight,  and  tlic  oWier^nf^lu)  left. 
rcpifKruted    the  extended  arfns  of  th()/1yini(  ^^,.)<^mer. 

^.^*?'Tiw.(!  ditroiTiit,  styles  (irof(ifrfl^^n()«*fi5(M.  (!)  1  tic  auciejU Chris 
lUlU  ;ksi|irsi^  C^ltlu,.  I{yy.HMlinc  stylo.  \vitlut,8  vaultejLWipulas;  (8)th(> 
iioumu\Mim  s^jjlci.  duthiii  UiHu  UH'VMiij-  1000  to .1105, )4)  th.-Goiiiic 


i 


'V 


'it  .*-. 


^ 


'ri" 


'4 


Il 

* 

Hi;  i 

^Hl'       ^ 

ii 

H  ': 

^H 

^B .« 

t:  • 


ii 


II 


.^' 


82 


CHRIST   11^   HIS   CHL^KCII. 


Graceful  columns,  supporting,  the  arches' of  the  lofty  and 
■spacious  vaults  above,  cuiTi(,^d  the  hearts  ahd  souls  of  the 
faithful  towards  heaven.  Miglity  towers  and  airy  domes 
announced  to  the  distant  traveller  that  here  the  King  of 
kings  had  laid  the  foundations  of  Jiis  throne,  \yitl>in 
these. sacred  edilices,  on  i)illar  and  side-wall,  on  ceiling' 
and  window,  painters  and  sculptors  exhausted  their  skill  in 
■representing*  the  glory  of;  the  Saviour  and  the  excessive 
wealth  of  his  mercy. 


St.  I'eter's,   llonnv 

But  who  can  enumerate*  all  the  ti'niplos  erected  to  ihc 
honor  of  the  one  true  (iod  during  flic  fifteen  hundred 
yerfTR  following  the  deliverance  from  (he  OHlMcoinl)s  ?  nnd 
built,  too,  not  merely  by  the  ^nimificence  of  kings  and 
princes,  but  by  the  offerings  of  niillious  of  poorer  people, 
ol^piouM  W(<rknien  and  iirtisaps,  who  considered  it  ri  priv- 

th  ctBittibut 


itege  and  an  honor 
l»b<*r  to  fwld   to  the  gl 
Christ.  (?ver  present  in  i 


■|*ib, 


to  their  mite  or  give  their 
the  great  Fligh-priest  Jesua 
'mpjes.      It  is  thus  that  the 


i4 


^, 


-^ 


HOLY   SACEIFIlDE   OF  THE   MASS. 


83 


^  great  cathedrals  of  our  own  day.  are  erected.     It  was  in  this 
manner  that^  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  the  most 
magnificent  temple  on  ej^rth,  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Rome,     ' 
was  raised  in  all  its  costly  and  splendid  i)roportions  above 
the  tomb  of  St.  Peter,  the  Prince  6f  the  Apostles.     The 
millions  of  dollars  expended  on  this  prodigy  of  architecture 
were  the  love-offerings  of  the- whole  Catholic  world.     And  <|  • 
it  has  never  occurred  to  the  mind  of  any  true  Cb.ristian  to 
term  such  generosity  a  useless  extravagance,  |0"  he  4cnows  _J  < 
that  where  and  when  our  great  High-priest  JesBs  Christjs 
pleased  to  pour  out  his. wealth  of  divine  gi-ace,*it  bedbmes 
the  duty  of  rich  and  poor  to  consecrate  to  his  service  the 
best  they  have,  and  to  give  it  joyfully  and, gratefully. 


V 


tr^' 


21.  The  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass. 

"And  tlie  high-priest  went  up  to  tlie  linly  iiltar.  He  shone  in 
hi,s  days  as  the  morning  star  in  tiic  midst  of  a  cloud,  so  did  he  shiue 
in  the  tepvple  of  God,  and  he  lionored  tlie  vesture  of  lioliness.  And 
as  branehes()f  palm-tree,  so  they  stood  roimd  about  him,  all  the  sons 
of  Aaron  in  flieir  glory.  And  the  ol)lalion  of  the  Lord  was  in  their 
hands,  before  all  the  congregation,  and  tinishing  liis  service  on  the 
altar,  to  hAonr  the  offering  of  the  Most,  Iligh"  I^ing.  And  the  sihgers 
lifted  up  their  voiwH,  and  in  the  great  house  the  .sound  of  sweet, 
melody  wijaincn^Ased'  E('<  i.ksiastk  i  s  I. 
'v 

Pl-oMvthe  Iwstory  of  nh u re h -edifices  let  us  n(»w  turn  to 
'  ecclesialsticHl    [)ractices  and   roremonies.     lleri',    too,   we 
shall  dis^ver  a  gradiii^l  and  ever  more  glorinus  develop- 
ment an(^  advancement;  for  the  kingdom  of  (Jod   i)oing 
like  the  miistard-seed  m^i^et  grow  aiui  spread. 

The  mfn^er  of  pet^ptming  divine i^erviccj^  the  days  of 
the  Apostles  js  doM^H  by  St.  Luke  in  the  Acts  of  the 
Ajmstles.  and  bMBBKulin  his  Epistles.  The  life  and 
soul  of  the  *lKvice  wji^  t^e  commemoration  of  the  Tjiist 
Supper,  ih%  holy  Sacf-ifice  of  the  Miiss.  It  was  aceora- 
panied   #ith  common   prayer,   rettdiug  of  pagsttges   from 


.t^^^i^^^.r 


84 


t 


CIIKIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH,  * 


holy  Scripture  with  explanations,  chanting  of  psalms  and 

Christian 'hymns,  and  a  general  love-feast.     The  manner 

m  which  all  these  exercises  were  united  with  the  essential 

•  act  of  worship  proper— namely,  the  offering  of  bread  and 

■^    wine,  and  the  Transubstantiation— Was  not  sp "unalterably 

appointed  as  it  is  in  our  time.     But  ih  the  course  of  the 

first  few  centuries  it  became  gradua%  fixed  by  the  decrees 

of  bishops,  Coujicils,  and  Popes.    Even  as  early  as  the  time 

of  Constantine  the  Great,  about  the  year  325,  the  prayers 

and  ceremonies  of  mass  w^'much  the  same„and  app\)inted 

in  the  same  order,  as  we  have  them  tq-day. 

Divine   service,  among  the  primitive  Christians,  was 
divided  into  two  parts;  namely,  the  Mass  of  the  Gate-  . 
chumens,  at  which  unbaptized  candidates  for  Christianity', 
l)enitcnts,  and  even 'i^agans,  might  be  present,  and  the 
Mass  proper,  at  which  only  the  baptized   faithful  oould 
assist.     The  Mass  of  the  Catechumens  began  with  a  recital"^ 
of  psalms  sung  by  the  faithful  in  alternate  choirs,  and 
corresponding  to  the  prayers  now  repeated  at  the  foot  df  ■ 
the  altar  by  the  celebrant  with  his  ministers  at  the  begin-  • 
nmg  of  mass.      Then  was  repeated  a  supplication   for  ^ 
mercy,  Ayrie  eleison,  followed  by  a  hymn  of  praise,  Oloria 
in  EzccUi,,  to  tiie  thrice  lioly  Qod;  after  which  the  cele- 
brant greeted  the  people  with  the  words,  **Tho  Lord  be 
with  you,"  Dominiis  vobiscum,  or  Pax  Vobis,  and   then 
l-ecited,  in  the  name  of  all,  the  series  bf  prayers  culled  the 
'^'Collect."     Then  a  lector  ascended  the  pulpifc  to  read  a 
passage  from  the  epistles  of  tlie  Apostles  or  from  the  Old 
Testament.     A  psalm,  graduMe,  was  then  cha^ted.  and  ' 
the  gospel   having  been  first  sung  bv  a  deacon,  was  after- 
wards exphii.K^d  to  the  people  by  the  bishop.     Here  Pnded 
tlie  Mass  of  the  Catechumens,  an^  the  deacon  then  directed 
them  and  tlio  unbelievers  and  the  penitents  to  retire 

?he  Mass  proper  began  with  the  selection,  from  the 
offerings  br.rtight  by  the  peopi*..  ,rf  the  brea^^  anrwine 
for  the  sacrifice.     The  matter  selocted  for  the-8acrifi<;e    ' 


•^ 


C 


f 
<• 


~N 


.  /  r.  <.: 


p      '    I  :• 


'J.   ." 


<J 


HOLY   SACRIFICE   OF  THE   MASS. 


86 


.->)<., 


was  now  offered  up,  the  deacon  poured  water  on  the 
bishop's  hands  for  tJ^  washing,  and  then  came  the  repeated 
inquiry  to  the  people  whether  any  one  amongst  them  had 
any  ill-will  in  his  heart  against  his  brother.     The  bishop 
•■^  then  sang  the  praises  of  God  in  the  "  Preface,"  closing  it 
.^ith  the  angelic  hymn,  "  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  God  x)f 
hosts,"  Sundus,  ''The  heavens  and  the  earth  are  full  of 
thyjglory,"  and  the  whole  congregation  joined  in  the  strain. 
Now  began  the  most  solemn  part  of  the -Mass,  called  the 
•"  Canon,"  a  portion  which,  from  the  time  of  Gregory  the 
Great— that  is,  about  the  year  600— to  our  own  day,  has 
^Mpiained  unc^nged.     To  the  prayers  for  the  living  sue-'  • 
ceeded  tli€  Consecration,  or  act  of  transubstantiation,  (he 
elevation  of  the  consecrated  s])ecies,  the  prayers  for  the 
faithful    depaijted,    the  Pater   Noster,    the   Agnus  'Dei, 
the  kiss  of  peace,  and  then  lioly  Com'tounion  was  ^admin- 
istered, first  to  the  celebrant  by  himselT^  and  then  to  the 
.faithful  irfattendance;  a  portion  of  the  Communion  being 
preserved  in  a-  vessel  or  tabernacle.     Prayers  of  thanks- 
giving then  ensi»d,^and  the' people  were  formully  dis- 
missed  by   thfi   deacon   with*  the  wor|8,  //<?  missa  est— 
"  Depart,  mass  is  over. " 

What  intense  feelings  ,of  reveFe;nce  and  of  consolation      / 
fill  our  souls, when  we  remember  that  the  sarivp  holy  sacri-      , 
^fice  of  th-e  mass  at  which  we  afesist  to-day  l)4s  b^en  sol- 
emnized  during  fifteen,   sixteen,  or  seventeen   hundred     - 
years  in  precisely  tlie  same  way  by  our  anQpstors  in  t\\^ 
faith!     When,  notwithstanding  t^ie  very  solicitous  secrecy 
with  which  the  Christians  of  tire  first  four  centitgies  con- 
cealed their  holy  mystpiiies  i\\m\  Je^Ws  and  l)aganjpj3  learn' 
from  the  writings  of  the  most  ancient  ckirchaipers,  aa 
well  as  from  venerable  relics,  from  origimfl  in8^tj)tio'nfi, 
and  from  images  found  in  the  catacombs,  that  even  in 
tht)se  times  the  belief  in  the  Real  Presence  of  Christ  in  <M^J 
the  Blessed  Eugharist  was  held,  and  tiiught,  and  reduced     >    ' 
to  practice,,  our  souls  overflow  with  gHitpfur  fopiin>rp  („ 


^^Bsmm^^ 


,/ 


86 


CHEl^ST   I^-^   Ills   CHUECIT. 


u 


r 


Jesus  Christ  for  huvkg  pe/mitted  us  to  be  members  of 
that  Mystical  Body  in  whioh  ho  has  lived,  in  which  he  still 
lives,  and  in  which  he  sha}l  continue^o  live  forever.  What 
a  comfort  to  know  from  j^l  the  abo^-mentioned  evidences 
that  our  Holy  Sacrifice/  of  the  Mass  Vas,  in  all  ages  of 
Christianity  just  as  in  /)iir  o,wn,  offered  up  for  both  the 
living  and  tlie  dead!  I^  is  a  consolation  and- an  assurance 
to  know  that  not  onl^  has  the  essential  portion  of  this' 


The  Fountain  of  Grace. 

Holy  Sacrifice  remained  witbinit  change  since  five  Very  hour 
o„f  the  Last  Supper,  but  tliat  even  its  vcrv  outwai^d  sym- 
boia  and  ceremonies  as  we  Iwive  them  (o-dav  were  strictlv 
and  ]>ermanen(ly  established  during  the  earliest  agixs  of 
the  (Miurch  by  snrh  saintly  and  learned  meli  as  St.  'Siisil, 
•St.  C&rysostom,  St.  Ambrose,  St.  GrVasius.  St.  Leo  the 
Hreat,  and  St.,G!:e^ory  the  threat.  Ihen  in  the  snialh^st 
matters  of  ceremony   we  are  inacc&rd   with   primitive 


HISTOEY   OF   BAPTISM. 


87 


Christianity.  Thus  it  ^becomes  evident  that  Jesus  Christ 
still  leads  in  his  Cliurch  \the  real  life  of  her  great  High- 
priest;  whilst  all  Iter  ritual  is  but  a  veritable  though  myste- 
rious continuation  of  his  great  work  of  atonement.  Thus 
the  Life  of  Christ  still  goes  on  till  the  end'  of  time,  aye, 
even  unto  eternity. 

In  very  early  times  it  was  permitted  to  offer  up  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  in  private  houses.  Thus,  for  example, 
St.  Augustine,  a  holy  doctor  of  the  Church,  tells  ,us  about 
a  certain  man  named  Hesperus,  the  members  of  whose 
household  were  annoyed  by  an  evil  spirit.  "  One  day,^ 
writes  the  saint,  "when  I  was  absent,  Hesperus  besought 
our  priests  that  one  of  them  would  come  to  his  house  and 
by  prayer  drive  away  the  demons.  A  priest  went,  and- 
offered  up  the  sacrifice  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ, 
fervently  beseeching  tlie  Lord  that  the  affliction  might 
depart  from  the  household.  Through  the  mercy  of  Cod, 
•the  petition  was  granted."  However,  as  in  the  course  of 
time  some  abuses  attended  tliis  custom,  the  Church 
forbade  the  celebration  of  mass  in  private  houses.  In 
America,  in  newly  and  sparsely  settled  districts,  where 
the  few  Catholics  are  as  yet  unable  to  erect  cliurchea,  tlie 
missionary^  priest,  like  his  predecessor  in  the  first  cen- 
turies, is  often  glad  to  find  an  opportunity  of  offering  the 
Holy  Sacrifice,  and  of  preaching  the  Word  of  God,  in  the 
humble  home  of  some  devout  parishioner.  As  the  Cath- 
olics  increase  in  number  and  means,  the  little  cliurch  <rith 
its  permanent  altar  is  taking  the  place  of  the  poor  man's 
cottage. 


22.   The  History  of  Ba|)tism. 

"T  will  pour  upon  you  clean  water,  and  you  shall  hw  cleansed 
from  all  your  filthincss,  and  I  will  cleanse  you  from  all  your  fdols." 
EZECHIEL  xxxvi. 

The  graces  resulting  from  Chrjst's  iin^f^^j^'rig  SH/'rifioe 
of  atonement,  and  which  foK^^  well -nigh  two  thousand  years 


f!l 


88 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


have  been  poured  out  upon  all  Christendom,  have  come  to 
us  through  the  channels  of  the  seven  Sacraments.  The 
Life  of,  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  is  still  pro- 
longed and  co-ntinued  in  a  mystical  manner  on  earth,  in 
and  through,  these  Sacraments.  It  cannot  then  be  other- 
wise than  agreeable,  as  well  as  profitable,  to  examine 
briefly  whatever  history  furnishes  us  regarding  the  ^min- 
istration of  these  same  ciierished  Sacraments. 

According  to  the  teaching  of  Christ,  the  Sacrament  of 
Baptism  was  always  considered  not  only  as  a  deliverance 
from  original  sin,    but  especially  as  an  admission   into 
the  kingdom  of  God,  and  to  membership  in  the  Church. 
In  the  early  ages  of  Christianity  the  ])erson  to  be  baptized 
^  was   immersed   formally  into    the  water;    and  from    the 
fourth    century,  buildings    adapted   to  this    manner    of 
administering    the    Sacraments  were    erected    near    the 
:,churches  and  were   called    baptisteries.     The   sick,  how- 
ever, and  the  feeble,    and  later  all  persons  without  dis- 
tinction,  were   baptized  by   the    pouring   on    of  water. 
Although  infant-baptism  was  practised  at  a  very  early 
period,  yet  this  holy  Sacrament  was  chiefly  administered 
to  grown  persons  iVho  had  been  converted  from  paganism 
or  Judaism  to  the  Christian  faith.     These  were  required 
to  spend  a  long  time,  sometimes  two  orthl-ee  years,  in  pre- 
paration and  in  the  study  of  the  Christian  doctrine,  and 
vfQve  termed  Catechumens.     Originally  bishops  only  were, 
according  to  rule,    ministers  of  this  Sacrament,   though 
priests  were  permitted  to   baptize  in  very  remote  ages. 
Baptism  was  given  on  any  day  of  the  week,  though  mostly 
on  Sundays.     The  ai)i)ointment  of  Easter  Saturday 'and-. 
Whitsun  eve  a«  special  days  for  the  solemn  administration 
of  this  Sacrament  was  more  recent.     Even  in  the  days  of 
the  Apostles   it  was  customary  to  select  sponsors  as  wit- 
nesses, and  as  sureties  of  fidelity  to  the  faith  on  The  part 
of  the  person  baptized.     The  vows  or  promises,  the  use  of 
illessed  salt,  of  holy  oil  and  the  burning  light,  as  well  as 


mSTORY  OF  COIfFlRMATlON. 


8d 


the  blessing  of  the  baptismal  water,  have  their  origin  in 
Christian  antiquity.  The  candidate  for  baptism  was 
required  to  turn  towards  the  west  when  renouncing  the 
devil  and  his  works,  and  towards  the  east  when  promising 
allegiance  to  Christ.  After  baptism  he  was  clothed  with 
a  long  white  garment.  <  Similar  garments  were  worn  by 
those  baptized  on  Holy  Saturday  during  the  ensuing  week 
till  the  Sunday  called  Low  Sunday,  or  Sunday  in  albis,  when 
they  laid  them  aside  with  certain  ceremonies  and  prayers. 


23.  The  History  of  Confirmation. 

"And  when  Paul  had  imposed  hands  on  them,  the  Holy  Ghost 
came  upon  them."— Acts  of  the  Apostles,  xix.  6. 

Confirmation  was  at  first  regularly  administered  immedi- 
ately after  Baptism,  and  was  therefore  considered  as  a  com- 
pletion of  that  Sacrament.  The  Apostles  usually  imposed 
hands  upon  the  newly  baptized^^in  order  tQ  impart  to  them 
the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and,y  besides  making  them 
children  of^d,  to  enroll  them  as  soldiers  of  Jesus  Clirist. 
Joined  to  t^imposition  of  hands,  even  in  early  times,  we 
find  the  markihg  of  the  candidate  witli  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  ind  the  anointing  with  holy  chrism;  according  to 
the  statement  of  Tertullian:  "The  body  is  anointed  in 
order  that  the  soul  may  be  healed;  the  body  is  signed  in 
oixler  that  the  soul  may  be  strengthened;  the  body  is  .over- 
shadowed by  the  imposition  of  hands,  that  the  soul  may 
thereby  be  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Ghost."  In  regard  to 
the  use  of  chrism  at  confirmation,  St.  Cyril,  a  father  of 
the  Churcli^rites  the  following  beautiful  and  significant 
words:  "-Be  aure  that  you  do  not  consider  this  oil  of 
anointing  to  l)e.comman  oil,  or  something  of  no  account. 
For  ju^t  as  the;breid  of  tfte  Eucharist,  by  the  invocation 
to  fclie  Holy  Spirit,  is.  no  longer  common  bread,  but  the 
bodiiiJKU^rist,  so  this  consecrated  unction  is,  after  the* 


'V 

\ 

'  a 

f 

\ 

Jj^t 


# 


pj'm^" 


ll  11 


^90  CHRIST  m  HP  CHtJROH. 

inyocation,  n©  loiig^^ffiaple  oil,  nor  an  ordinary  anoint- 
ing, bat  it  makes  the  gifts  of  Christ  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
effectual  and  operative  through  the  presence  of  his 
divinity."    In  the  fourth  'century  the  Church  began  to 

fe  administer  these  two  holy  Sacraments  of  Baptism  and 
Confirmation  separately,  and  the  administration  of  the 
latter  was  gradually  reserved  to  the  bishops.  Of  this,  St. 
Jerome  gives  us  clear  proof,  when  he  says:"  "It  is  acustom 
in  the  Church,  when  the  priest  or  deacon  in  some  small 
remote  place  administers  the  Sacrament  of  Baptism,  for 
the  bishop  to  visit  those  places,  in  o«ier  to  impose  hands 
on  such  baptized  persons,  and  to  call  down  the  Holy  Ghost 
upon  them:"  The  v^ry  .name  of  the  Sacrameiit,  Con- 
firmation, expresses  a  strengthening,,  and  signifies  that  the 
faithful  are  fortified  by  this  |ioly  Sacrament,  in  a  super- 
natural manner,  to  believe  and  profess  their  faith.  Being 
a  Sacrament  of  the  living,  it  must  be  received  only  when 

.the  candidate  is  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  consequently  those 
to  be  eonfirmed  are  t<xbe  prepared  by  a  good  confession. 


24.  The  History  of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

"  Neither  is  there  any  other  nation  so  great  that  hath  God  so 
nigh  to  them  as  our  God  is  present."— Deut.  iv.  7. 

Of  the  profound  reverencie  shown  by  the  primitive 
.Christians  towards  the  all-holySacrament  of  the  Altar,  and' 
of  the  love  which  they  cherished  toward  it,  we  are  in- 
formed by  the  holy  Scripture;,  whilst  pictures,  signs,  sym- 
bols, and  inscriptions  found  in  the  catacombs,  as  well  as 
innumerable  passages  from  the  works  of  the  ancient 
Chy|i»cb-writers,  give  us  indubitable  proof.  Strength  for 
Christian  life,  coi^fort  in  tribulation,  courage  in  persecu- 
tion, joyous  resignation  to  martyrdom,  all  these  were 
sought  and  founj  by  the  firstlings  of  our  faith  in  the 
hea)^enly  food  of  j  the  Eucharist.     It  was  a  univetsal  cus- 


d 


HISTORY   OF  THE   HOLY   EUCHARIST. 


91 


nt- 


tom  to  receive  it  daily,*  us  tlie  daily  supernatural  bread. 
To  those  who  were  present  at  the  "  breaking  of  bread  I'  it 
was  placed  upon  their  outstretched  hands  to  be  iinfcie- 
diately  consumed,  while  to  the  sick  and  imprisoned  it  was 
carried  by  the  deacons.  Travellers  and  hermits  were  per- 
mitted to  carry  the  Blessed  Sacrament  away  in  a  61ean 
cloth.  These  last,  as  well  as  the  sick,  received  Commu- 
nion und^B|e  kind  Ojily,  thp  form  of  bread  ;  because  it 
was  alwa^HKmly  believed,  from  the  very  beginning,  that 
the  precious  blood  of  our  Lord  was  inseparably  united  to 
his  body  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  hence  that  the 
entirety  of  Jesus  Christ  was  received  even  under  one  form. 

Gradually,  for  the  most  important  reasons,  Commu- 
nion under  only  one  form  l^ecame  ihore  frequent  for  all 
the  laity,  and  finally,  since  the  fourteenth  century,  it  has 
become  general.  In  the  beginning,  the  early  Qhristians, 
like  the  Apostles  at  the  last  supper  and  afterwards,  received 
in  the  evening;  but  as,  in  the  course  of  time,  many  abuses 
crept  in,  it  became  the  custom  towards  the  end  of  the  sec- 
ond century  to  receive  Communion  in  the  morning,  before 
breaking  fast..  Since  the  fourth  century  this  practice  hasf 
been  made  a  general  law  by  the  action  of  more  than  one 
Council. 

'In  the  days  of  the  primitive  Christians  the  Blessed 
Siicrament  used  to  be  most  frecpiently  carefully  kept  in  a 
costly  casket  which  hung  oveKthe  altar,  and  had  the  form 
of  a  dove  on  the  wing.  Afterwards  the  so-called  sacra- 
mentary  shrines  came  into  use.  These  usually  stood  on 
the  Gospel  side  of  the  altar.  Miiny  of  them  were  elabo- 
rately wrought  and  handsomely  decorated  towers,  such 
as  may  be  seen  even  at  the  present  day  in  many  Gothic 

*  It  was  only  aftor  the  lapse  of  centuries  that  the  Church  was 
compelled  to  com  nut  nd  her  chiUlrcii  to  receive  Communion  at  least 
three  times  a  year;  namely,  ut  Christmas,  Easter,  and  Pentecost. 
And  even  this  precept  was  limited  by  the  fourth  Lateran  Council 
to  the  one  communion  at  Easter. 


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CHRIST  IN  HIS   CHURCH. 


churches.  Sometimes  these  shrines  were  imbedded  in 
the  wall  of  the  church  and  had  richly  wrought  doors. 
Finally,  in  later  ages,  the  modern  tabernacle,  standing  in 
the  middle  of  the  altar,  has  become  the  })ermanent  reposi- 
tory of  the  most  holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar. 


im 


25.  The  History  of  the  Sacrament  of  Penance. 

"Pe^ce  be  to  you.  As  the  Father  hath  sent  me,  I  also  send 
you.  Receive  ye  tlie  Holy  Ghost.  Whose  sins  you  shall  forgive 
they  are  forgiven  them,  and  whose  sins  yoy  shall  retain  they  are 
retained." — John  xx.  21. 

In  all  ages,  as  in  our  own  day,  holy  Communion  was 
administered  to  those  who  had  been  unhappily  guilty  of  sin, 
only  after  a  worthy  reception  of  the  Sacrament  of  Penance, 
by  a  sincere  confession  of  their  sins',  a  firm  purpose  of 
amendment,  and  a  comi)liance  with  the  })enance  enjoined. 
Thus  we  read  in  the  nineteenth  cliapter  of  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles  that  in  consequence  of  the  miracles  per- 
formw.1  by  St.  Paul,  not  only  Jews  and  pagans,  but  even 
Christians,  were  seized  with  fear,  and  came  confessing 
■their  sms.  To  tiie  very  first  Ciiristiails  of  antiquity,  the 
holy  Evangelist  St.  John,  in  his  twentieth  chapter, 
announced  and  declared  that  the  Apostles  had  received 
from  Christ  the  commission,  aiul  from  the  Holy  Cihoat  the 
power,  to  remit  sins.  In  the  first  chapter  of  his  Epistle  he 
imparts  this  consoling  truth  to  sinners:  "  If  we  confess 
our  sins.  Cod  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins, 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  ini<|uity"  (1  John  i.).  In  the 
year  200  we  hear  the  learned  Tertullian  speaking  and  writ,- 
ing  of  Confession  as  something  in  general  use,  aii^  of 
priestly  absolution  as  a  priceless  treasure  of  grace.  But  ho 
adds  that  even  in  his  time  there  were  many  who  tried  to 
escape  the  duty  of  Confession  entirely,  or  who  put  it  off 
from  one  day  to  another,  being  more  troubled  about  a 


iriSTOKY    OF   THE   SACRAMENT   OF    PENANCE.     .93 

false  sluime  than  about  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Thus 
some  individuals,  known  as  Novatians,  objected  to  the 
usage  of  the  Church,  saying  that  it  was  impossible  for  one 
man  to  forgive  the  sins  of  another.  But  the  learned  doc- 
tor of  the  early  Church,  St.  Ambrose,  answered  them 
pointedly:  "Why,  then,"  said,  lie,  "do  you  baptize? 
Sins  are  forgiven  in  Baptism,  aoid  it  is  about  the  saifte 
thing  whether  the  priest  exercises  the  ample  power  given 
to  him  in  Baptism  or  in  Penance;  in  either  of  these  two 
^Sacraments  the  power  exercised  is  the  same." 

Besides  private  confession  we  also  meet  in  Christian 
antiquity  the  practice  of  a  public  confession  of  sins.  This 
latter,  on  account  of  many  abuses,  fell  into  disuse  in  the 
fifth  and  sixlh  centuries.  The  i)enances  imposed  in  early 
times  for  the  commission  of  sins  appear  to  us  very  severe. 
Murderers,  adulterers,  blasphemers,  and  other  great 
criminals  were  not  permitted,  during  several  years  subse- 
({ucnt  to  their  crime,  to  be  lircscnt  at  or  take  i)art  in  pub- 
lic vorshii).  Standing  or  else  lying  prostrate  before  the 
l)ublic  entrance  to  the  church,  they  besought,  the  prayers 
of  those  who  passed  in.  They  were  denied  the  use  of 
wine  and  of  flosh-mcat,  and  if  they  were  rich  they  were 
required  j^ti^devote  large  sums  of  ^oney  to  the  poor  or  to 
the  Church,  or  to  undertake  difficult  pil^i^ages  to  Rome, 
Jerusalem,  or  some  *)ther  distant  place.  *, 

Gradually,  in  course  of  time,  especially  in  the  sjxth, 
seventh,  and  eighth  centuries,  petmltios  formally  propor- 
tioned ami  appointed  for  th(^  different  kinds  ^ud  grrides 
of  sin  were  inscribed  in  the  book  of  canonical  penances, 
and  they  were  strictly  enforced  for  many  subsequent  cen- 
turies. How  otherwise  could  the  Catholic  Church,  in  the 
early  ])art  of  the  middle  ages,  have  subdued  the  savage 
and  bariiarous  nations  of  heathendom  and  bring  them  to 
the  freedom  of  the  children  of  God?  Moreover,  great 
stress  was  constantly  laid  upon  the  truth  that  all  these 
J:^"}^'"'^  ^"''.^"  ".^1'^",^"^^^^^^  ^•gy'jd  have  no  va|uo  hofonj  fjM 


•i 


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94 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


if  they  were  not  animated  by  a  spirit  of  humble  contrition 
and  a  firm  ptirpose  of  amendment. 

In  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  the  holy  Sacrament 
of  Penance  used  to  be  adminiritered  about  fifteen  hundred 
years  .ago,  there  is  still  extant  a  description  by' Alcuin,  a 
learned  and  celebrated  monk  who  was  the  professor  of 
Ghai'lemagne.  lie  gives* it  as  an  extract  from  the  most 
"  aneient  of  the  })enitential^books  of  the  Church.  It  shows 
tSat  the  mode  then  followed  of  recc^nciling  a  sinner  to  God 
was  about  the  same  as  now,  though  somewhat  longer. 


26.  The  History  of  Extreme  Unction. 

"Though  I  should  walk  in  the  midst  of  the  Bluidow,s  of  death,  I 
will  fear  no  evils,  for  thou  art  with  me.  Tiiou  hast  anointed  my 
heftd  with  oil,  and  thy  mercy  will  follow  rai;,  that  I  may  dwell  in 
the  house  of  the  Lord."— Psat.ms  xxii.  ' 

As  our  Saviour  had  directed  hi«s  Apostles  to  anoint  the 
sick  (Mark  vi.-  13),  and  sis  St.  Jiimcs  tlie  A[)ostle  had 
admonished  the  faitliful,  saying:  "Is  Hnjjjjta  sick- among 
yon?  Let  him  bring  in  the  priests  of  -t^Hpirch,  and  let 
them  pray  over  liim,  anointing  him  with  M  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord"  (James  v.  14),  both  priests  and  faithful 
hastened  to  obey  the  order  in  the  very  earliest  times;  as 
WG  are  assured  by  the  holy  fafcllers  of  the  Church.  Thus, 
for  example,  St.  Caesarius,  wh6  lived  in  the  fifth  century, 
writes  as  follows:  "-As  soon  as  a  person  falls  dangerously 
sick,  he  receives  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Thou  his  body  is  anointed,  and  thus  is  fulfilled  what 
stands  written:  '  Is  any  man  sick  among  you,  let  him  call 
in  the  priests  of  the  church,  and  let  them  i)ray  over  him, 
anointing  him  with  oil,'  "  etc. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  Sacrament  was  denied  to  ex- 
communicated persons,  as  we  learn  from  a  decision' pro- 
nounced by  Innocent    I.,  about    the  year  410.     lie  .'^ays: 


HISTORY   OF   AfATIJIMONY. 


96 


"Without  doubt  the  words  of  St.  James  refer  to  the  sick 
faithful  who  are  anointed  with  the  holy  Chrism  blessed  by 
the  bishop,  and  which,  in  time  of  need,  is  useful  not  only 
to  the  priests,  but  to  all  who  believe  in  Christ.     But  to* 
the  penitents,  who  have  not  been  reconciled  to  the  Church, 
this  anointing  must  not  be  administered..  For  it  belongs  to 
the  class  of  Sacraments,  and  why  should  those  who  have 
refused  and  denied  the  Sacraments  dare  to  receive  tliem?" 
From  the  writings  of  another  Pope,  St.  Gregory  the 
Great,  wo  have  a  detailed  description  of  {lie  i)ious  ceremo- 
nies then  followed  in  the  administration  of  Extreme  Unc- 
tion, and  of  tlie.prayers  read  at  the  blessing  of  the  sacra- 
mental t)il  for  th^  sick. 
J/ 


r 


27.  The  History  of  Matrimony. 

"This  is  a  great  sacrament:  but  I  speak,  in  Cljrist  and  in  tlie 
church."— K^MiK8iANs  V.  32. 

As  our  divine  Iligh-Priest  had  come  ujjon  earth  to  ele- 
vate and  purify  every  condition  of  man,  it  behooved  him 
of  course  to  ennoble  and  sanctify  marriage,  which  is  the 
foundation-st(nie*6fv human  society.       For,  alas!  how  de- 
graded this  sacred  state  had  become  among  the  heathens 
of  anti(iuity,  and  even  among  the  Jews  themselves!    Christ 
therefore  restored  matrimony  to  its  origimil  dignity;  ren- 
dering it  indissoluble,  forbidding  polygamy,  rescuing  the 
wife  from  slavery  and  nniking  her  the  e(|ual  companion  of 
iier  hnjiband,  and  inculcating  upon  married  i)eople  purity      ' 
of  morals  and   mutual  love  and  respect  for  each   other.  *^'^ 
Moreover,  he   raised  marriage   to  the  dignity  of  a  Sacra- 
ment,  com})aring  the  married  state  to  that  intimate  union 
of  charity   which    binds    himself   to  his  Church;    and  to 
the  outward  or  visible  signs  of  a  nui)tial  contrm^t  he  added 
idl  those  j)reternatural  graces  which  are  necessary  to  enable 
the  married  cou])le  to  live  (levont]yjimlliii|>i)ily  together,  -: 


06 


r 


ClliJiST   IN    JUS    CJIUKCII. 


«-y- 


St.  Paul  sjiys:  "  Being  siibjoet  one  to  jwiother  in  the  fear 
of  Christ.  Let  women  be  subject  to  their  husbands,  as  to 
tlie  Lord.  Because  the  husband ; is  the  head  of  the  wife, 
as  Chrfetis  the  liead  of  the  Chmtlli.  He  is  the  savipur 
of  his  body.  Therefore  as  the  Church  is  subject  to  Christ, 
so  also  let  the  wives  be  to  their  husbands  in  all  things. 
Husbands,  love  your  wives,  as  Christ  also  loved  the 
Churcli,  and  delivered  himself  u})  for  it,  tliat  he  might 
sanctify  it,  cleansing  it  by  tlie  laver  of  water  in  the  word 
of  life.  That  he  miglit  present  it  to  •himself  a  glorious 
Cliurch,  not  having  si)()t  or  .inynlck^ 
but  tluit  it  should  be  holy  anclrv^)th0iit  ■blemish.  So  also 
ouglit  men  to  love  tlieir  wiyeisia  their  own  bodies.  He 
tluit  lovet-h  his  wife  lovetji  himself.  For  no  man  ever 
hated  \m  own  llesh,  but  nourisheth  and  cbonsheth  it,  as 
also  Christ  dodi  tiie  Church;  because  we  are  members  of 
his  body,  of  liis  llcsli,  und  of  iiis  bones.  For  tliis  cause 
shall 'a  nuin  leave  his  father  aiul  mother,  aiul  shall  cleave 
to  his  wif(j,  and  they  shall  bo  two  in  one  llesh.  This  is  a 
great'sacrament;  but  I  s[)eak  in  Christ  and  in  the  Church. 
Nevertheless,  let  every  oiie  of  you  in  particiilar  love  his 
wife  as  himself,  and  let  the  wife  fear  her  husljand." 

Hence,  as  we  learn  from  the  testimony  of  .St.  I-niatius, 
himself  a  disci i>le  of  the  Ai)()stles,  marriage  in  the  very 
first  years  of  Christianity  was  solemnized  in  the  i)resence 
of  bislioi)s;  while  Tertullian  i)raises  this  married  state, 
"because  it  is  ratified  by  the  Church,  fortified  by  the 
sacrifice  of  the  mass,  and  sealed  with  Heaveu's  blessing." 
When,  afterwards,  during  the  middle  ages,  clandestine 
nuirriages,  privati-ly  entered  into  without  the  i)resence  of 
the  i)riest  or  the  blessing  of  the  Church,  began  to  multiply 
and  to  seek  recognition  and  sanction,  tlie  Chnrch-councila 
strenuously  oi)posed  and  condemned  them  as. an  undig- 
nified and  dangerous  abuse.  The  Council  of  Trent  d6- 
clar^d  positively  and  plainly  that  the  Church  could 
recogni/e  as  valid  and  licit  among  Catholics  only  such 


/*- 


o. 


HISTORY   OB;  matrimony. 


97 

'rnarriages  ..s  were  perfornicd  before  tlie  parish-priest  of 
the  ].urt.es  uiul  ux  presence  of  two  or  three  odier  witnesses 
Marrmges  between -Catholics  on  the  one  side  and  paZ  * 
Jews  or  heretics  on  the  other  were  strictly  forbicdfn  in 
ear  y  Chnshun  tmies.  The  significant  words  used  by  Te  " 
tulhan  m  his  admonitory  efforts  to  dissnade  a  ChHstian 
young  woman  from  marrying  a  pagan  strike  severely  a 
the  so-called  mixed  marriages  of  our  own  time:  -If  a  day 
o^'CHu-  on  whu-ii  the  peoi^e  assemble  for  prayer  tlie  nvin 
-lip- the  day  at  the  baths;  if  a  fast  is\o'be'obserr 
l.e  will  hold  a  banquet;  and  never  will  he  find  so  man^ 
occupations  for  you  at  home  as  when  you  ought  to  go  oul 

01- '"tr';","""'^  f  ""'"''''^  ^'^'-^>-     Whefp  will 
}OKi    faith    hnd    nourishment?    whence   will   you    draw 

renewa  of  soul  and  the  divine  blessing?"  I„  ij^  manner 
St,  Ambrose  asks:  "  ]Iow  can  that  be  called  a  married 
union  where  (he  ]>a.%s  are  not  united  by  one  belief  V" 
And  again:  ''How  can  a  bond  of  love  unite  those  whom 
then'  belief  drives  ai)art?"' 

Towards  the  close  M   the  last    rentury  the   so-called 
CIVIC  marnage  took  its  me  ii,   Fram^e.     Matrimony  was 
declared  by  the  ixifidels  to  b^e  a  mere  bargain,  lik^  any 
other   bu.mess  contract.      This  disastrous  heresy  undei^ 
n.med  the  well-being  of  the  family,  and  sapped  the  foun- 
<  a^<^KS  of  the  state.    It  -is  very  significant  that  in  1702 
the  s)lme  year  in  which  was  passed   the" law  concerning 
e.v.c  marriages,  the   terrible  French   devolution  took  it^ 
yi^Mhrou^a^Fran.,  to  tbo  verge  of   destruction. 
I  lu  Church  solemnly  condemned  this  law,  which  robs  the 
Sucramcnt  of  Matrimony  and  the  holy  state  of  wedlock  of 
Its  moral  character  and  religiousdignity 


* 


98 


CHRIST   UST   HIS   CIIUKCH. 


28.  The  History  of  Holy  Orders. 

"  Every  high-priest  is-taken  from  among  men.  Neither  doth  any 
man  take  the  lienor  to  himself,  but  he  that  is  cariled  as  Aaron  was." 
-^Ephesians  v. 

Holy  Scrii)ture  describes  plainly  the  institution  of  the 
Priesthood  of  the  new  dispensation.  By  solemnly  impart- 
,  ing  tlie  power  to  offer  sacrifice  and  to  dispense  the 
holy  Sacraments,, Christ  himself  ordained  this  calling,  and 
appointed  the  Aposttes  to  l)e  the  first  members.  The 
Apostles  in  their  turn,  by  the  Sacrament  of  Ordination 
that  is,  by  the  laying  on  of  hands — imparted  the  same 
power  and^  authority  to  deserving  candidates,  and  made 
them  bishops;  as  for  instance  when  St.  Paul  laid  hands 
on  and  consecrated  Titus,  Timothy,  and  others.  Of  the 
different  'relations  existing  between  priests  and  laity, 
mention  is  made  by  a  disciple  of  the  Apostles,  St.  Clement 
of  Rome,  who  says:  "To  the  high-priest  certain  impor- 
tant charges  are  assigned,  to  the  priests  their  position  is 
designated,  to  the  levites  their  own  special  duties  are 
marked  out,  while  the  laity  are  bound  to  each  other  and 
to  their  clergy. " 

Sts.  Ignatius  aiul  Polycarp,  both  disciples  of  the 
Apostles,  term  the  bishop  "the  Head  of  the  congregation 
in  spiritual  things."  Thus  it  ai)pears  that  bishops,  even 
in  the  earliest  times,  governed  and  presided  over  distinct 
congregations  or  churches,  and  were  assisted  by  priests 
and  deacons.  In  the  course  of  time,  as  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  people  were  augmented  and  multiplied,  the  ecclesi- 
asticaboffices  grew  in  proportion,  and  in  the  year  250  we 
hear  the  holy  Pojjc  Cornelius  8i)eaking  of  the  subdeacons 
appointed  to  assist  the  deacons  in  their  many  duties.  He 
also  mention^  lectors  who  were  to  care  for  the  lioly  books 
and  to  read  from  them  at  divine  service;  sicolytes,  as 
attendants  on  the  bisliops;  exorcists,  who  had  the  care  of 


'€ 


# 


HISTORY-  OF   SUNDAY. 


99 


possessed  persons;  porters,  who  did  duty  at  the  church- 
doors,  allowing  none  to  enter  but^tliose  who  were  entitled 
to  the  privilege.     The  solenittdutroductiou  to  these  several 
offices,  from  that  of  porter  up  to  the  dignity  of  priesthood, 
constituted,  as  it  does  to-day,  the  Sacrament  of  Ordination! 
Ever  and   always  the'  bishop   was   sole   minister  of  this 
Sacrament.     Oj-iginally  conferred  by  prayer  ^nd  simple 
imposition  of  hands,  ordination  was  afterwards  solemnized 
by  the  formal  dalivery  to  the  candidate  of  all  the  insignia 
of  his  office,  and  in  giving  priesthood  by  anointing  his 
Jiands  with  holy  oil.     Hence  St.  Augusthie  admoni^ies 
priests:  "You  must  be  ever  mindful  of  your  dignit}^,  and  '" 
of  what  took  place  at  your  ordination^^jj^n-  your  hands 
were  consecrated  by  holy  anointing  in  WKr  to  teach  you 
that  you  should  not  desecrate  hands  so  sacredly  blessed." 
In  accoi-dancu  with  a  very  ancient  ecclesiastical  ordinance, 
the  dignity  of    priesthood    is   usually  conferred    on  t^ 
Saturdays  of   Trinity-  and  Ember-week  before  ChristmaT^^ 
Hence  for  this  intention  the  Catholic  people   fasted  on  / 
these  days;  as  was   done  of  old   in   Antioch,  when   the/ 
Christians  prayed  and  fasted  at  the  time  tliat  the  two  new 
apostles,  Barnabas  and  Paul,  were  ordaini^  to  their  sub- 
lime office  by  tiie  other  apostles. 


29.  Thie  History  of  Sunday. 

"Why  doth  one  day  excel  another,  when  all  come  from  the  sun? 
By  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  tljey  were  distinguished.  He  ordered 
the  seasons,  and  holidays  of  them,  and  in  them  they  celebrated 
festivals  at  an  hour.  Some  of  thorn  God  made  great  and  high  days, 
and  some  of  them  he  put  in  the  number  of  ordinary  days."-^ 
EccLEsiASTrcus  xxxiii. 

After  having  spoken  of  sacred  places  and  of  holy  rites 
and  ceremonies  in  the  divine  service,  let  the  holy  seasons 
and  festivals  next  engjige  our  attention. 
„  _'^Mt  JmcJcnttrnd  divine  law  of  th^  Jewkh  dispeasafeioa 


v 


It 


11 


100 


CHRIST   Ilf   HIS   CHUECH. 


which  required  that  one  oui  of  every  seven  days  should  be 
allotted  to  rest  a*fd  prayer,  and  more  csi)ecially  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  the  Most  High  God,  is  still  of  binding 
force  upon  all  nations,  and  for  all  times,  past,  present, 
and    future.     Hence    the    Apostles,    by    virtue    of    the 
unlimited  authority  and  power  which  they  had  received 
fro"  Jesus  Christ,  transferred  the  solemn  sanctification  of 
this  day  from  Saturday,  which  was  the  Sabbath-day  of  the 
Jews,  to  the  first  day  of  the  week,  o^  Sunday.     We  read  in 
the    Acts    of   the   Apostles,    20t!i    chapter,    Tth    verse: 
**  And   on   the  first  day  of  Me    week,  when   we    were 
assembled  io   break   bread,  Paul  discoursed  with   them, 
being  to  depart  on  the  morrow,  and  he  continued  his 
speech  until  midnight."    Again,  St.  Paul,  alluding  to  the 
offerings  made  by  the  first  Christian^  for  the  support  of 
their  pastors,  writes  in  his  first  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians: 
*'  On  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every  one  of  you  put 
apart  with  himself,  laying  up  what  it  shall  well  please  him; 
that  when  I  come,  the  collections  be  not  then  to  be  made" 
(1  Corinthians  xvi.  2).  ^ 

St.  Justin,  as  early  as  the  year  150,  thus  explains  the 
meaning  of  the  religious  observance  of  Sunday:  "  We  as- 
semble together  for  the  celebration  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice  on 
Sunday,  first  because  it  is  the  day  on  which  the  eternal 
Father  created  the  world  and  displaced  the  darl'ness  for  the 
.  light,  and  secondly  because  it  is  the  day  on  which  Jesus 
Christ  rose  from  the  dead."  We  may  add  the  fact  that  on 
this  first  day  of  the  week  the  Holy  Spirit  was  imparted  at 
Jerusalem  to  the  Apostles,  thus  completing  the  foundation- 
work  of  the  Church.  So  that,  in  truth,  this  day  is  the  day 
of  the  Lord;  the  day  of  the  thrice-blessed,  tri -personal, 
triune  God,  of  the  ever-adorable  Trinity,  of  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  It  is  the  day  of  the  eternal  Father, 
who  on  the  first  day  of  creation-week  called  heaven  and 
earth  out  of  nothing  into  existence,  and  summoned  the 
light  forth  from  the  darkness  of  chaos.     It  is  the  day  of  ' 


"X 


y 


HISTORY    OF   OUR  LORD's   FESTIVALS. 


101 


God  the  Son,  who  on  this  day  sealed  and  stamped  beyond 
recall,   by^his  glorious  resiirrectioff,  the  great   work   of 
man's  redemption.      It  is  the  day  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who 
revealed  himself  on  this  day  to  Christianity,  and  bestowed 
himself  upon  the  Church.      It  is  becoming  to  call  it  Sun- 
day.    For  on  this  day,  in  fayor  of  every  ])ious  congrega- 
tion in  God's  house  assembled,  the  Sun  of  truth  shines  in 
the  Sermon,  the 'Sun  of  divine  charity  burns  in  the  Holy 
Mass,  the  Sun  of  divine  grace  warms  and  vijifies  in  the 
holy  Sacraments.     Thus  the  faithful  observers  of  Sunday  '^ 
are  enlightened,  enlivened,  and  strengthened  by  the  rays 
of  this  spiritual  Sun,  that  they  may  be  eiiabled  to  encoun- 
ter the  duties  of  the  following  week  with  courage  and 
cheerfulness.     How  beautiful  and  appropriate  in  Chris- 
tianity the  meaning  and  the  reality  that  resulted  from  the 
ignorant    and    thouglitless    proceeding  of    the    heathen  ' 
Greeks  when  thc^r'  dedicated  the'  first  day  of  the  week  to 
the  sun  ! 


30..  The  History  of  the  Festivals  of  Our  Lord. 

"Seven  days  slialt  tliou  cclebrtitc  feasts  to  the  Lord  tliy  God  in 
the  phice,  which  tlie  Lord  shall  choose  :  and  the  Lord  thy^God  will 
blessthce."— DeuteuonomyxvI.  15. 

Besides  t^^unday,  the  early  Christians  observed  reli- 
giously certam' other  days.  These  were  days  commemo- 
rative of  events  in  the  life  of  our  Lord,  in  the  life  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  in  the  lives  of  the  Saints. 

The  seven  most  important  festivals  of  our  Lord  are  his 
Jvativity,  or  Christmas-day  ;  his  Circumcision  ;  his  Mani- 
festation to  the  Gentiles,  or  Epiphany  ;  his  Resurrection, ' 
or  Easter-day  ;  his  Ascension  into  heaven  ;  the  Descent 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  i(t  Pentecost  or  Whitsunday,  and  the 
feast  of  his  Real  Presen'cfe  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar, 
or  Corpus  Christi.  Christmas  was  celebrated  certainly  as 
early  as  the  year  140,  although  at  that  tiniest  was  kepi_ 


■^ 


<^ 


^'•> 


1 


102 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH.  - 


If  V 


J'- 


'# 


on  thoisixth  of  January,  together  with  the  festival  of  the 
three  kings.     Afterwards,  a^out'th'e  year  340,  the  holy" 
Pope  Julius  I.  ordered  a  thorough  research  to  be  made    . 

'  amoiig   the  records  of   the   Koinan  enn)ire,    in  order  to 
ascertain  the  exact  dy,te  of  our  Lord's  birth  ;  and  siuce 
that  time  the  festival  has  been  held  c  upon   the  25th  -of 
December,  and  Tnade    uniform    throughout    the   whole'**  , 
Church.     From   that   time,   too,   the  festival  of   Christ- 

,  mas,  which  was  always  celebrated  with  much  pomp  in 
the  Churchy  and  with  sentiments  of  jo^  and  gratitude  - 
by  all  Christians,  was  preceded  by  a  season  of  ^ur  weeks 
devoted  to  i)rayer,  fasting,  and  meditation  as  a  prepara- 
tion iOr  the  great  event  of  the  Incarnation. '  .This)  season 
was  called  Advenu.  The  festival  of  the  Circumcision  falls 
on  t|ie  tirst  .day  of  the  new  year.  Although  we  are  not 
certain  of.  the  exact  time  Avhcn. its  obsefv'ance  began,  we 
are  sure  that  it  was  kept  in  tlie  first  centuries  of  Chris- 
tianity.     For   in    the    year   5G7    the    Council    of    Tours 

'declth-ed  as.  follows:  "AVith  the  view  of  eradicating 
pagan  customs,'  our  forefathers  long  since  directed  that 
on  the.  1st  of  January  s})ecified  Iftanies  should  be  recited 
and  certain  psalms  be  sung  in  the  church,  and  that  the 
maSs  of  the  Circ^limcision  should  bo  solemnly  celelu-ated  " 
to  the  honor  of  our  merciful  .Lord." 

Anotjier  festival  of  our- Lord,  tlie  Epiphany,  occurring 
twelve  .days  after  Christmas,  and  sometimes  called   tlie 

•  Feast  of   the  Kings,  dates  back-  to   ])rimitive  Christian 

,  ages,   and  was  even  then  of  such  importance  that  even  ■ 
the  Empefbr  Julian  the  Apostate,'during  his  sojourn  in 
Gaul  in  3G1,  did  not  dare  to  absent  himself  from  public 
worship  on  this  festival.     About  the  year  900,  no  manual    ^. 
labor  cQuld  be  ])erformed  during  tjie  octave  of  this  feast, 
aijid  three  centuries  later  we  find  an  ordinance  requiring" 
the  faithful  .to'  liear  at  least  one  mass  on  each  day  of  the 
octave,    ^he  EasEer  festival,  together  with  the  fast^of 
forty  days  called  Lent,  took  its  rise  in  apostolic  times^ 


N 


/ 


^'\ 


J 


\ ' 


\ 


^HISTORY    OF   OUR   LORD's    Fj:STrVALS.  103 

,     and  the  cliin-ch-fatliers  of  very  early  Christiaiiity  call  it 
the   ''king  of  all  days"  and.  th^  "feast  of  feasts,"  put- 
-  shining  ^ill  other  festive  days  in  supernatural  splendor. 

In  similar  words,  St.  Augustine  traces  the  observance 

'-of  tlie  jiscension  df  Christ  back  to  an  ajjostolic  ordimmcd, 

or  certainV  to  one  of  the  very  earliest  Councils  of  the 

CJiurcli.    'St.  Chrysostom,  in  a  sermon  wjiichli«  preached 

,.  oh  Aseensiqn-day,  exclaims  enthusiastically  : '"  O^x  human 

,>Aiature,  which  at  pne  time  seemed  unworthy  to  dwell  even 

upon  the  earth,  is  to-day  carried  'np/in  Christ,  to  heav^, 

where  it  is  ranked  far  above  the  cherubim.".     The' feast 

'of  Penjpiost,  or  Whitsunday,  is  mcijtioned,  in  wMt  are 

called    "The   Apostolical   ConstitutioirTs^' _as    a  ^stival 

_  which  was    then   of   time-honored  memory.     About   the 

year  200,  Tcrtullian  testifies -that  it  was  "a  priacipal  fes-* 

tival."     We  have  to-day  several  sermons  prcaclied  in  tlje 

fourth  century^on  tills  remarkable  festival,,  in  all  of~which 

the  fathers  si)eak  i>f.  it  as  having  existed  from  earliest 

times.'*  '■     •  >,  "^  -. 

One  of  the  grandest  festivals  of  fhe  Cliurch  is  that 
which  she  celebralcs  tt-'n'days  aftjT  Pentecost,  aiM  which 
is  called  Corpus  Cljristi.  \\\  this,  mor^  than , any  other 
fejist  of  the  whole  year,  is  the  actual  Lif(  of'-t^hrist  as 
prolonged  in  his  Cliurch,  and  as  manifested  in  a  mystical 
manner  to  the.  eyes  of  faith,  shown  forfli  with  practical 
and  convincing  effect.  It  is -the  feast  of  the  life  .of  Christ, 
the  Church's  public  acknowledgment  and  solemn  confes- 
sion of  his  real,  actual,  living  presence  Awtljin  the  "Mys- 
tical Body.';  It  is  the  feast  or  the  Blessed  Sacrament ;  a 
feast  which  in  a  certain  sense  contains  and  expresses  the 
meaning  of  all  Qther  feasts.  It  preaches  to  the  world  the 
belief  that  I^e  who  was  once  born  in  a  stable,  who  shed 

-  his  first  bl(^d  in  the.  eiro^^meisiori,  who  Manifested  him- 
self to  tlw?  three  wise .  mei£  fi-om  tlue  east  .on  Epiphan^ 

rT^o  after  an  excruciating  passion  and  disgraceful  death 
ascended  to  heaven,  whence  he  sent  the  Hnlv  Ghost— that  ' 


'-J 


104 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


". 


He  yet  lives  in  the  Church  !i  mystic- life.  Corpus  Christi 
is  the  fei^t  of  tjie  Life  of  Christ.  For  ouf  Lord  and 
Saviour  lives  really  and  truly  in  the  adorable  Sacrament 
of  the  Blessed  Eucharist  on  our  altars.  Many  -miracles, 
but  esi>ecially  a  remarkable  vision  from  heaven,  seen  by 
St.  Juliana  in  Luttich,  gave  rise  to  this  festival.  The 
chief  reason  whicli  induced  Po})e  Urban  the  Fourth,  in 
the  year  1264,  to  proclaim  the  univei-sal  religious  obser- 
vance of  this  festival  of  Corpus  Christi,  was  tlielirm  and 
pious  belief  of  the  faithful  in  the  mystery  of  the  real  pres- 
ence of  Jesus  Cltrist^in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  where  he 
treasures  up  for  our  use  and  benefit  all  the  fruits  of  his 
life  and  death.  Thus  sings  the  royal  Psalmist  when,  by 
anticipation,  he  meditates  on  the  Blessed  Sacrament:     . 

"  I  will  praise  tiiee,  0  Lord,  with  my  whole  heart,  in 
the  counsel  'Of  the  just  and  in  the'  congregation.  Great 
are  the  works  of  the  Lord,  sought  out  according  to  all  his 
wills.  •  His  work  is  praise 'and  niagniTicence,  and  his 
justice  continueth  for  ever  and  ever.  He  hath  made 
a  remembrance  of  his  wonderful  works,  being  a-  merci- 
ful and  gracious  Lord.  He  hath  given  food  to  them 
that  fear  him.  lie  will  be  mindful  for  ever  of  his  cove- 
nant." ^ 

How  admirable  the  beauty  and  power  of  the  Catholic 
ritual  !  How  gloriously,  and  with  wliat  pregnancy  of 
meaning,  her  public  worship  Inis  unfoklcd  itself  into  its 
l^resent  solemn  and  majestic  i)roporti()ns!  Our  early  fore- 
fatiiers  in  the  faith,  ])oor  and  i)ersecuted,  8olemni7,ed  the 
Holy  Mysteries  in  tiie  secret' gloom  of  subterranean  cav- 
erns, tind  wore  solicitous  to  conceal  from  the  S(;oftiiig  and 
desecrating  gaze  of  the  unbelieving  workl  the  jjresence  of 
the  world's  Redeemer  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  To-day 
in  Catholic  lauds  Ho  goes  forth,  as  on  Palm  Sunday  in 
Hie  olden  time,  ami  is  (;arried  in  triumph,  surrounded  by 
fervent  and  adoring  hearts.  He  ))ji8fies  tiirough  the  wood- 
land,  and  by  the  field,  ami  in  the  city  street,  blessing  all 


1^  » -.iJk 


,'-\  « 


HISTORY    OF   OUR   LORD's   FESTIVALS. 


106 


with  his  divine  presence,  as  he  goes  by  in  the  procession  of 
Corpus  Ciiristi. 

This  lovely  feast-day,  with  its  grand  procession,  pos- 
sesses an  irresistible  cluwrn.  One  of  the  most  inveterate 
infidels  of  modern  times  was  compelled  ^to  acknowledge 
the  powerful  influence  wrought  by  the  Catholic  .observance 


#*^ 


^i;^m^ 


The  Procession  on  Corpus  Christl. 

of  Corpus  Christ!  on  liis  own  unliappy  mind.  He  writes: 
"Never  have  I  looked  ii|M)n  the  long  line  of  white-robed 
priests,  nor  seen  the  files  of  surj)li('ed  acolytes,  nor  watched 
the  reverent  crowds  preceding  and  following  the  consecra- 
ted host,  without  being  deeply  moved.  I  have  never  been 
able  to  listen  to  the  solemn  cliigiting;  by  the  clioristers, 
of  tho  grand  old  t^nllli  jWrnrnfltfvdTiyfnTTirWffl^ 


I 


II 


106 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


my  heart  throb  violently.  Tears  would  rise  to  my  eyes, 
and  my  whole  being  would  become  absorbed  in  the  con- 
templation of  this  'public  pi-ofession  of  faith  coming  from 
my  fellow-beings  with  better  hearts,  if  not  better  heads, 
than  mine.  The  whole  ceremony  contains  within  itself 
something  indescribably  tender,  exi)ressive,  and  suggestive 
of  the  loveliest  sentiments  of  the  human  heart." 


31.  The  Festivals  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

"Behold,  from  henceforth  all  generations  shall  call  me  blessed  " 
—Luke  i.  48.  '    " 

Around  the  sublime  festivals  of  the  I^ord  as  a  centre, 
like  the  moon  and  stars    about  the    sun,'  revolve    the 
festivals  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  of  all  the  saints.     The 
Catholic  ecclesiastical  year,  with  its  Various  and  varied 
succession  of  feasts  and  fasts,  its  seasons  of  joy  and  sea- 
sons of  penance,  resembles  the  firnuiment,  where  the  stars 
from  their  shining  tield  of  azure  blue  shine  forth  in  count- 
less rays,  delighting  the  eye  of  man  with  their  utility  and 
beauty.     In  the  first  place,  in  relation  to  these  festivals  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  it  is  evident  to  all,  at  a  glaiu-e,  tlnit 
Christ  lives  yet  in  his  Church,  as  the  Son  of  Mary.     As  in 
the  land  of  Judea,  during  his  Innlily  life,  Jesus  was  sub- 
ject to  his  Vir^nn  Mother  in  holy  obedience  and  respect- 
ful love,  so  too  Hliould  tlie  Church  of  (Mirist  continue  to 
offer  unceasingly  to  the  Mother  of  her  Divine  Founder,  a 
foncfand  willing  tribute  of  love,  admiration,  and  respect. 
The  fact  that  the  Catholic  Church  has  at  all  time  faith- 
fully and  entliusiasticillly  discharged  this  i)leasant  duty: 
that  the  angel's  greeting  has  re-eciioed  within  her  temples 
for  centuries  ;  that  not  only  her  simple  laity,  but  also  her 
most  learned   men,   both   of    the   laity  and    clergy,   have 
rivalled  each  other  in   honoring  Mary,  and  thereby  ful- 
fijled  her  »wn  in^iTd^pn^u-cy.J' Bl-lmh^^  hence- 


.^^l' 


II  *■ 


108 


CHRIST   IN  .HIS   CHURCH. 


r 

forth  all  generations  shall  call  me  blessed  "—all  this  con- 
stitutes one  of  the  most  striking  proofs  of  the  truth  of 
_the  Catholic  Church  itself. 

Of  the  very  many  festival-days  instituted  by  the 
Church  in  honor  of  the  ever-blessed  Mother  of  God, 
we  can  mention  in  this  place  only  five.  ' 

The  festival  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  was  observed  in  many  places  as  early  as 
the  fifth  century,  and  gradually  the  whole  Church  began 


■-0 


Procession  on  a  Feast  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

to  adopt  it.  It  has  been  kept  with  greater  splendor, 
however,  by  the  whole  Church  since  the  memorable  8th 
of  December,  1854,  when  Pius  the  Ninth,  in  the  midst 
of  two  hundred  bishops  from  every  part  of  the  Catholic 
world,  raised  the  time-honored  and  })iou8  belief  of  all 
Catholics  to  the  dignity  of  a  defined  article  of  faith.  "*1(.> 

Of  e(iual  anticpiity  with  the  feast  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  is  the  festival'  of  her 
Nativity  on  the  8th  of  T>ecf>ml)er.     Roth  took  tiicir  riao 


j-mi.f.Ti?'^'^       II 


"m 


FESTIVALS   OF   THE   SAINTS. 


109 


in  the  Eastern  Churcli,  wlience  they  found  their  way  to 
us  with  the  Spread  of  Christianity  towards  the  West. 
Older  than  either  of  these  two  festivals,  having  the  ori- 
gin of  its  observance  i)robab]y  away  back  in  sipostolic 
days,  IS  th^  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  our  Blessed 
Lady.  On  this  feast  we  commemorate  the  precious 
moment  when  the  Blessed  Virgin  received  Heaven's  mes- 
sage from  the  lii)s  of  the  archangel  Gabriel,  and  the  Son 
of  God  took  his  human  nature  in  her  chaste  womb.' 

The  feast  of  the  Purification,  or  Candlemas-day,  had 
Its  origin  in  the  Eastern  Church,  and  was  introduced  into 
the  West  by  Pope  Gelasius  in  494.     The  sad  and  affecting 
allusion  of  the  venerable  prophet  Simeon  to  'Hhe  Light 
of  the  world,"  which  occurs  in  the  gospel  of  this  feast, 
gave  occasion  to  the  same  i)ope-to  institute  the  procession 
in  which  lighted  tapers  are  held  in  the  hands  of  the  faith- 
ful.    Gelasius  introduced  the  observance  of  this  proces- 
sion with  candles,  in  order  to  substitute  a  religious  rite 
for  the  superstitious  practice  then  followed  by  the  heath- 
ens of  carrying  burning    torches  during   the   month  of 
February.     The  Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  was 
kept  as  a  religious  festival  in  the  very  dawn  of  Christian- 
ity.    It  was  known  and  observed  in  France  and-Germany 
certainly  about  the  year  550,  and,  as  now,  was  a  favorite 
festal  day  with  clergy  and  laity.     In  England  and  Ireland 
it  was  strictly  koi)t,  and  the  devotional  rejoicings  were 
continued  with  much  piety  during  eight  days.  - 


32.   The  Festivals  of  the  Saints. 

"  Let  U8  now  praise  men  of  renown.  The  Lord  hath  wrought 
great  glory  '  in  them  ',  through  his  magnificence  from  the  l)eginning. 
Let  the  people  show  fortli  their  wisdom,  and  the  Church  declare 
their  praise."— ECCLE8IA8TICU8  Xhv. 

The  festivals  that  have  been  established  in  honor  of  the 


Sftinttf  idw  #ved  rfrOhrist,  and  in  TftfoSi  he  mm,  exceeif 


^.f»; 


110 


CHRIST   m   HIS   CHURCH. 


m 


in  number  the  days  of  tlie  year.     There  is  not  a  day  which 
18  not  a  Saint's  day.     At  one  time  the  feasts  of  the  Apos- 
tles and  of  some  other  Saints  were  holidays  of  obligation, 
-    but  m  the  present  discipline  of  the  Ohurchonly  a  few  are 
kept  as  such,  and  in  some  countries  none.     Priests,  how- 
ever, ariB  under  the  obligation  of  rendering  to  the  Saints 
in  the  name  of  all  the  faithful,  the  veneration  to  which 
they  are  entitled.     This  is  done   by  reading  the  offices 
peculiar  to  the  Saints  as  designated  in  the  breviary,  and  in 
.      the  celebration  of  the  masses  set  apart  in  the  missal  to-be 
offered   to   God   under  the  invocation   of  these   Saints. 
Although  the  Saints'  days  are  no  longer  observed  by  the 
cessation  of  work,  pious  Catholics  find  time  to  honor  the 
heroes  of  the  Church  by  reading  their  lives,  by  meditating 
on  their  virtues,  and  by  begging  their  intercession.     They 
seek  by  good  resolutions  and  fervent  prayer  to  learn  to 
imitate  their  ardor   in  the  cause  of  Christ.     The  oldest 
Saints'  days  are  the  festivals  instituted  in  honor  of  the  first 
Christian    martyrs.     The    primitive.  Christians    used    to 
assemble   in  the  catacombs   on   the  anniversaries  of  the 
mtirtyrdom  of  their  departed  .brethren  in  the  faith,  and  there 
offer  up  sacrifice  and  prayer  and  praise,  as  the  Acts. of  the 
disciples  of  the  Apostles  testify,  such  as  those  of  St.  Igna- 
tius and  St.  Polycarp. 

^  In  the  course  of  time  similar  honors  were  paid  to  othqr 
Saints  who  had  been  distinguished  for  purity  of  life  and 
honored  with  the  gift  of  miracles.  At  first  only  their 
own  immediate  neighbors  knew  their  merits  and  honored 
them,  but  soon  tlniir  virtues  became  known  to  all  Cliristen- 
dom,  and  their  anniverspy  days  grew  to  be  universally 
recognized  and  honored.  The  principal  Saints'  days, 
which  even  yet  are  in  many  places  festivals  of  obligation 
.,^  are  St.  Stephen's,' St.  Joseph's,  St.  John  <he  Baptist's,  Sts' 

,  Peter  and  Paul's,  tlie  special  patron  day  of  each  country  or 
parish,  and,  the  chief  and  most  favorite  of  all,.the  Feast 
of  All  Saints.     This  last  festival  was^oh^flryndi^^^^ 


FESTIVALS   OF   THE   SAINTS. 


Ill 


early  times  by  the  Catholics  of  the  Eastern  Church.  It 
was  placed  in  the  Latin  calendar  of  festivals  a15out  the 
year  610,  during  the  pontificate  of  Pope  Boniface  the 
Fourth.  There  is  still  standing  ip  the  city  of  Rome  an 
ancient  and  spacious  pagan  temple,  built  under  the 
heathen  emperors,  and  called  the  Pantheon,  because  it 
was  the  temple  where  all  the  gods  of  the  various  nations 
conquered  by  the  Romans  vvef-e  worshipped.  The  emperor 
Phocas  bestowed  this  building  on  Pope  Boniface,  who 
purified  it  from  the  last  remaining  traces  of  pagan  super- 
stition. He  then  had  the  bodies  &t  several  holy  martyrs 
and  confessors  conveyed  from  the  catacombs  with  great 
reverence  and  solemnly  deposited:^!  tiie  purified  church, 
which  was  then  /iedicated  on  the  13th  of  May  as  a  Chris- 
tian temple  under  the  invocation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and 
all  the  Saints.  In  the^^  year  731  Pope  Gregory  the  Third' 
placed  the  commemoration  of  these  and  of  all  other  Saints 
of  God  on  the  first  day  of  November.  It  has  ever  been  in 
the  Church  a  glorious  festival  and  full  of  deep  significance; 
for  it  proclaims  on  its  annual  recurrence  the  triumph  of 
the  Redeemer  over  heathen  mythology.  The  Saints  of 
God  have  driven  the  false  deitids  from  the  hearts  and 
homes  of  men.  Only  God  is  one,  single  and  indivisible. 
Yet  in  heaven  there  are  beings  nigh  unto  God,  who  are 
inebriated  with  divine  happiness.  These  are  'the  souls  of 
those  redeemed  nien  and  women  Avho,  in  the  l^attle  of  life 
here  below,  have  persevered  to  the  end,  till  they  have  con- 
quered even  death  itself.  Tiie  heavenly  choirs  of  angels 
have  received  them  with  transports  of  delight,  led  them  to 
celestial  joys  before  the  throne  of  the  thrice-holy  God, 
wliere,  like  the  angels  themselves,  they  will  raise  their 
voices  forever  in  hymns  of  praise  and  exultation. 

Such  are  the  r\ye,  luxuriant  fruits  from  the  Vineyard 
of  the  Lord.  Not  untimely,  then,  is  the^jommemoration 
just  at  the  close  of  the  harvest  season.  On  this  festival 
the  faltfifiJI  CBlTstTan,  Tii  yoytuT  T(^  ralsesThe  ey es  oT 


"^ 


112 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH.   ' 


his  soul  to  the  spacious  realms  of  heaven  and  contemplates 
the  Saints  in  their  happiness  and  rest.     He  remembers 
that  he  IS  closely  related  to  the  glorified  elect  of  heaven- 
..    tliat  he  IS  flesh  of  their  flesh  and  bone  of  their  bone, 
ihey,  hke  him,  are  also  members  of  the  one  great  Church 
of  God  which  reaches  from  the  recesses  of  purgatory  to  the 
regions  of  the  earth,  and  extends  aloft  to  the  highest 
vaults  of  heaven.     And  if,  on  this  festival  day,  he  devoutly 
repeat  that  glorious  prayer  of  the  Church,  the  Litany  of 
the  Saints,  his  own  comforting  faith  will  whisper  to  his 
soul  the  consoling  truth  that  the  Saints  in  heaven  above 
hear  his  cry  for  help,  and  by  virtue  of  that  charity  which 
lives  even  beyond  the  grave,  will  remember  him  before  the 
throne  of  (Tod. 

This  feast  is  most  appropriately  followed  by  All  Souls' 
Day.     For  the  Church  militant  on  earth  lives  in  close  and 
sacred  communion  with  those  souls,  the  souls  of  those  who 
are  asleep   in  the  Lord,  and  who  are  atoning  for  their 
shortcomings"  in  the  fires  of  purgatory.     When  we  in  our 
.necessities  look  aloft  to  our  brethren  in  heaven,  in  search 
of  relief,  let  us  not  forget  to  cast  a  glance  of  compassion 
downwards  towards  our  suffering  brethren  in  purgatory. 
Let  us  endeavor,  by  holy  masses,  by  alms-giving,  and  by 
frequent  prayer,  to  shorten   the  time  of  th^eir  purgation; 
that  thus  the  comforting  angel  may  the  sooner"  come  to 
their  relief,  and  announce  to  them  the  glad  tidings  that 
divme  justice  has  been  satisfied  in  their  regard,  and  that 
their  hour  of  release  has  come.     The  observances  of  "All 
Souls'  Day,"  including  the  visiting  and  decoration  of  the 
cemeteries,  can  be  traced  back  with  certainty  to  the  year 
1000.     It   shows  forth,  under  ,the   most   sacred   circum- 
stances, that  great  article  of  Catholic  faith,  namely,  that 
the  Redeemer  of  the  world  still  lives  upon  earth  as  ver- 
itable High-priest,  performing  the  divine  functions  of  the 
Church,  renewing  his  adorable,  sacrifice,  andUus  redeem- 
J°^J^^"^  ^^^"^  ^^^"£^_^^^^^^>  ^^  Hjgh-J"lest  of  the 


FESTIVALS   OF   THE  SAINTS. 


113 


cross,  called  to  himself,  selected,  and  purchased.  To  this 
High-priest,  who  is  truly  and  efficaciously  present  in  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  be  honor,  praise,  glory,  and  adora- 
tion, both  from  the  choirs  of  happy  angels  in  heaven  and 
from  all  the  faithful  on  earth,  now  and  forever. 


i 

. 

_^                     , 

m 

♦ 

» 

»> 

V, 


1,1     I 


ir 


I   "5 


P 


11 


\ 


CHAPTER  IV. 


•  THE^  HISTORY    OF   THE   TEACHING- 
OFFICE    IN    THE    CHURCH. 


JESUS^CHRIST  LIVING   IN  HIS   CHURCH  AS  THE  TEACHER 
OF   TRUTH    AND   WISDOM. 


33-  The  Church  Fathers. 

"  He  gave  some  Apostles,  and  other  some  pastors  and  doctors 
for  the  edifying  of  the  Body  of  Christ ;  until  we  all  meet  into  the 
unity  of  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God."— Ephesians 
iv.  11-13. 

•  "T)^^^^^  *^ie  space  of  three  years  our  Saviour  preached 
^  -L^"  heavenly  truth  in  the  6ities,  towns,  and  hamlets  of 
Judea.     Although  the  public  heard  his  voice,  yet  the  Apos- 
tles and  disciples  were  the  most  favored  witnesses  of  the 
truth  and  sanctity  of  his  teachings.     Much  of  what  he 
,  taught  was   afterwards   written   by   the   evangelists   and 
Apostles,  and  carefully  preserved  in  the  Church  as  Holy 
Scripture.     Much,  to6,  was  handed  down  from  genera- 
tion to  generation  by  mere  word  of  mouth,  and*  was  grad- 
ually in  the  course  of  time  committed  to  writing  by  the 
Fathers  of  the  Church.     The  whole  saving  trutlv  w^ich 
lay  enshrined  in  his  breast  our  divine  Teacher  gave  to  the 
Church  when  he  promised  to  be  with  her  during  all  time, 
and  through  the  instrumentality  of  his  duly  appoint^ 
teachers,  and  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  guil 
Jier  in  all  truth  forever.     TJTis  promise  is  the  supernatural 


■v.. 


/' 


THE-t;HURCII    FATHERS. 


116 


equipment  of  the  holj  Church  for  her  duties  and  office  as 
teacher  t^l  nations.  It  is  the  soil  which  has  produced 
those  giant*'^^  Avhose  shade  and  fruits  have  afforded  life 
to  Christiau  nj^ions  for  centuries;  namely,  the  Fathers  of 
the  Church..  It  is  the  mirac^us  power  Av^iich  has  pre- 
served the  general  Councils,  as  well  as  the  successors  of 


V 


Christ,  our  Divine  TeaclMr. 


St.  Peter,  the  Popes,  from  all  error  in  defining  matters  of 
faith.      .  ^  .    ,  '       • 

If  we  go  back  in  spirit  to  the  first  centuries  of  Chris- 
tianity, our  view  rests  upon  a  host  of  v^erable  men,  v^ho 
>ot  only  by  their  mwl  teachings,  but  also  by  means  of 
their  pious  and  leaMed  writings,  so  edified  and  strength-" 
ened  the  infant  Church  that  they  have  evei^  since  been 
styled  the  Fathers  of  the  Church.*  -    '  ■        " 

J'  In  the  schools  a  distinction  is  made^etween  the  Fathers  and 
teachers  of  the  Church  and  the  niicre  writers  who  were  not  saints, 
aDOnto  wIigae'WjltiDirajuTorasomalimps  rrppt.     jj».  p^.^^p]e  ^j 


\ 


^. 


( 


^•■' 


\ 


f 
II 


<  IIKIM    IS  HIS  cMirjicir. 


/riicy  ;ire  t'Jie  illustriou.s  and  eniinciUly  7'rMiWf  wit- 
nesses of  .ineient  Cliristian  tradition.  And  tlic  Cutholio 
mind  is  incxpressihl;  ^onifortod  and  calmed  when  it  sees 
that  these  Cliurcli-faliiers  more  than  fifteen  luindred 
years  ago  mainiaincd,  tauglit,  and  defend(|d  in  tlieir  writ- 
ings the  self-same  truths  wliich  we  liold  to-day.  The  fol- 
lowing lire  a  few  of  these  most  deserving  men  : 

St.  Clement  of,  Rome,  martyred  about  the  year'  100, 


.i*- 


ird  sue 


St.  Ignatius,  Bishop  of  Antioeh. 

was  the  friend  anTKcteer  of  *St.  Paul, 
cessor  of  St.  Peter  in  me  pontifical  cli: 

'  St.  Ignatius  was  bishop  of  Antioeh%!!^a  ^fsciple  of 
St.  John  the  Evangelist.  Accordi/ig  to  an  old  legend  he 
ifas  the'  child  whom  our  Lord  preferred  to  the  disciples, 
when  they  were  disputing  about  their  respective  titles  to 


ver,  infcludo  even  such  men  as  Clement  of  Alexandria, 
"nd  '^^'■jftjfljp-*  o»  account  of  their  services  to  Christianity, 
they  madSrsome  mistakes.  " 


,i.if 


■i  ^ 


^f^" 


t 


4 


w 


^ 


fllEr  CATHOLIC    FATHERS. 


/ 


117 

precedence      He  was4hrown  u  prey  to  the  wild  beasts  in 
Rome,  in  the  year  107. 

a  df.nM'^^?T;  't^'  ''"'  ^^'^^"P  "^  ^"'y^'"^'  and- likewise 
a  disciple  o±  ht.  John,  was  condemnrd  in  the  yearTgO 
when  e.glity-six  years  of  age,  to  be  burned  to  death,  but 
not  being  hurt  by  the  flames,  was  pierced  by  a  dagger  and 
so  put  to-death.  -  ^  ^  J       '^ggt.r,  ana 

St.  Papias,  bishop  of  Hierapolis,  was  a  friend  of  St 
Polycarp,  and  probably  a  disciple  of  St.  John.  He  trav- 
elled about,  visiting  the  various  Christian  con^-egations  • 
and  the  immediate  disciples  of  the  Apostles,  taking  much 
pains  to  collect  dl  the  oral  traditions  concerning  the  life 
,and  teachangs  of  oiu-  Saviour,,  all  of  which  1,^  wrote  down 
in  five  books.     He.  died  about  the  year  150  . 

St.  Justin  ..as  surnamed  the  Philosopher,  because  he 
had  passed  many  years  in  the  scliools  o^pagan  philosophy     ' 
seeking  in  vain  for  that  truth  which  he  fiiTall/discovered 

Chitsltrrr''  ™.  "*.  ^'''  ^  P^^^"'  ^^^^  subsequently  a 
Chi  stian  teaciier  of  philosophy  at  Athens,  who,  like  St 

Polytnrrd' p'''''"  Minor,  disciple  of  the  holy  Fathers 
rolycarp  and  Papias,.  came  to^aul.  about  the  year  160 

sl'nd  bL      "'.t'"  u'""^^  •''  ^^-^'  -^  '---      « 
year  202        ''•    '       "^'  ^"  ''''''  ^''""^  ^"^  ^^^^  -  the  "  ^ 

reno'll^TcrcW^  P"^^'  andtelcher  in  the   " 

tiryelr  L?.^  "  ^'"''"^  ''  Alexandria,  and  died  in    " 

uasiTe  eloquence,  great  ability,  and  varied,  deep  and  so^d 
^^^-j^.iiii.mi::^Xi^  Attacks  arpapfts,  Jews,  and  heretics. 


1% 


'< 

i 

\]\ 

I' 

l'  'i  M 

1 

ij     ! 

■  i 

"is 

}| 

118  .  iMHHIST.rN   Ills   OlIURCII 


tr rfliappily,  ftXf  S^iiat  of  true  humility,  this  otherwwe^ fault- 
less man  fell  later  into  the  errors  of  the  Montanists.  He 
died  about  the  year  220. 

Origen,  culled  on  aceount  of  his  indefatigable  industry 
Adamantius,  or  the"  man  of  iron,  iH-came  in  his  eighteenth 
year  the  successor  of  Clement  in  the  })r()fessor\s  chair  at 
Alexandria,  and*  notwifelj-standing  some  errors  won  for 
himself  immortal  fame  for  maintaining  the  purity  and- 
explaining  tlie  meaniiig  of  tiie  holy  Scriptures.  His 
ardent  zeal  for  Christian  truth,  his  fund  of  knowledge, 
and  his  afflictions,  have  made  him  one  of  the  moyt  remark-  • 
able  personages  in  C'hurch  history.  He  died  from  the 
effects  of  im})risonment  ai(d  torture,  luuV'C  the  Emperor 
Decius,  in  tiie  year  2id. 

St.  Cyi)rian  was  bisho})  of  Carthage.  The  })rincipal 
doctrine  that  occui)ied  his  mind,  time,  and  writings  as 
bishop,  was  the  Unity  of  the  Church.  He  writes:  "All 
the  life  and  blessiugs  of  Christianity  de])end  on  the  union 
of  all  the  faithful  with  their  bishops,  and  the  union  of  all 
the  bishops  with  the  mother  Church  of  Kome. "  He  was 
beheaded  in  the  year  2A8. 

St.  Athanasrus.  patrljirch  of  Alexandria,  wasthe  chief 
opponent  of  the  heresiai\ch  Arius,  aiul  after  being  exiled 
five  times  for  the  faith,  died  in  the  vwir  .'JT.'J. 

-  St.  Hilary,  bishop  of  Poitiers,  like  St.  Athanasius  was 
an  able  ^and  courageous  o|)p()nent  of  Ariunism,  aiul  its 
overthrow  was  in  a  great  |iij>H!*ure  owing  to  thvir  i)rudenco 
and  enlightened  zenl.      He  dietl  in  the  year  'AftH. 

St.  Kphrem  the  Syrian,  a  i)riest  of  Kdessa,  distiu: 
guished  for  his  oj)j)osition  to  the  teachers  of  error,  for  his 
mildness  towards  the  erring,  and  for  his  fervid  elo(iuence, 
died  in  the  year  ilTH.  In  his  writings  are  to  be  found  the 
most  unanswerable  testimonies  and  proofs  of  anti(|uity  in 
defence  of  those  doctrines  of  the  Catholi(>  Church  most 
commonly  denied  by  Protestants. 
^==^-=^  Cyril.  bi4,wp  of  Jtir ow-temf  waa  styU^  the  Catc=^^ 


« 


FOIIII   FATHERS   OF   TlIK    WlvSTEItN   CHUIiClI.       119 

chist    on  account  of  hl.s  famous  work,  the  twenty-three 
Catechisms,  in  which  ho  defends  the  trhtlis  of  Christian 
fiuth  against  lierctics,  and  exphiins  them  for  new  converts 
lie  died  m  the  year  380. 

St.  Epiphanius,  Archbishop  of  Sahimis,  who  even  in  his 
own  hfetime  was  honored  as  a  saint  because  of  his  virtues 
was  compiler  of  the  first  history  of  the  heresies.     He  died 
111  tiie  year  4iKi. 

St.  Cyril,  Patriarch  of  Alexandria,  was  the  principal   • 
iidversary  of  the  heretic  Nestorius,\ind  died  in  444 

Pope  St.  Leo  L,  surnamed  the  Great,  the  conqueror  of 
the  heresy  of  Kutyches.  e.,ually  distinguished  by  his  sa^ac- 
ityand  activity  as  Prince  (»f  the  Church,  and  by  his  kn°ow- 
Icdge  and  el()<,uence  as  teacher  in  the  Cliurch,  died  in  the 
year  4(il. 

St  John  Damascene,  j.riest  at  JerusalenCthe  last  of 
,^  tl.e  Church  fathers  in  the  Kast.  became  ren<,wned  in  the 
••ontr()vj.r#v  concerning  images,  and  was  likewise  simple 
I'lous.  and  soli.ily  h-arned.      He  died  in  the  vear  TiO 


34-    The  Four    Great    Fathers    of  the    Western 

Church. 

-  You  HIT  I  l.e  Halt  of  tl„>  ('aril..     You  are  the  light  of  the  world."   . 
— Matthkw  v.  i;!,  ' 

IJiMiowned  as  are  (he  nineteen  foregoing  Fathers  and 
great  as  have  hocn  (hrir  s.-rvices  to  the  Church  of  (Jo,l 
t  ley  an- c.m.pletely  oversha.lowed  by  (]„.  f..ur  grand  and' 
,d..r,ous  Fatlu.rs  of  the  Western  Chuirh  ;  namelv.  St.  Am- 
•i-ose,  St.  Augustine.  St.  Jn-ome.  and  Si.  Cregorv  the 
^;>-eat  :  as  well  as  by  the  four  great  Fathers  of  the  Eastern 
^iH.rch.  St.  Basil.  St.  (}regory  of  Nyssa,  St.  (iregory 
iNazian/en.  and  St.  John  Chrysostoin.    "  ' 

St^mbroso.  i,,  early^maidi.md  a  hiwyer  aiHl  Jmpeml __ 


— ^^\z^— "^' — ..  nmTfjii    nun    imiM'riiii 

ETTTor,  became  LLsliop  of  Milan  in  ;3r4,'and  was  a  n.odel 


120 


ClIIil.ST    IN    HIS    C'lIUHCII. 


.of  apo^olic  zeal,  true  piety,  and  .sterling  integrity,  as  well 
aff^iftender  and  faithful  shej)lierd  to  his  tlock.  His  ser- 
mons, especially  those  on  the  dignity  and  beauty  of  celibacy 
and  vn-ginity,  were  very  convincing.  His  i)ious  hymns 
are  to-day  sung  in  our  churches  ;  his  devotional  writings 
still  furnish  aniJnexhaustible  sup]ily  of  edification  and 
instruction  to  pious  souls.  To  him,  too,  is  the  Churcli 
indebted  few  her  greatest  Doctor,  St.  Augustine,  who  was 
■converted  l)y  t-he  soul-stirring  preaching  of  St.  Ambrose, 


at  AiiKii^tino,  Dwtor  of  the  riuiivh. 

transfornjed  from  a  sinner  to  a  saint,  from  a  reed  bending 
befoi'e  eacli  and  every  breath  of  ('rr(»r  to  a  linn  pillar  of 
the  (Jhui-('h.  In  tlie  year  .'!!•."),  August  ine  was  made  bishop 
of  Hi|)po  in  Africa,  and  became,  from  that  time,  by  his 
nuMU'rous  and  valuable  writings,  bv  iiis  apostolic  discharge 
of  duty,  and  by  the  sanctity  of  his  life,  the  Centre,  adviser, 
and  friend  of  all  the  ('hristian  writers  of  his  time'.  Ho 
died  in  Dalmatia  in  the  year  i'M),  ten  years  later  than  his 


FOUR   FATJIKKS   OK   THE   EASTEKX 


CIIURCII.      121 


Tliis  latter  Futlier  of  the  Church 


l)rei)iired  himself,    by 


extended  travels  and  a  sojuuni  of  severa^years  in  the'des' 


ert,  for  the  glorious  dut 


les  jissigiied  to  him  bv  God.    Fr 


ns  came  to  him  for  his  decisi 


■om 


on  con- 


all  quarters  (jucsti 

cerning  doctrine,   ecclesiastical    rights  and 
well  as  upon  perfection  of  Christian  life.      P 
entrusted  to  tliis  Icurned  Father  the  translatio/i  of  the  holy 
'  '"■'''' '"""^'       "■  ■  l)rofoui^l  exi)lanati()ns  of  the  Bible,  his 
itroversial  writings  against  heretics,  and 


relations,   as 
'oj)e  Damasus 


ui'es; 


JI 


Scrij)t 
unanswerable  coi 

his  numerous  valuable  letters,  constitute  to-day  one  of  the 
choicest  treasures  of  the  Church. 

-  The  last  great  Fatherof  the  Western  Church  was  Pope 
St.  Gregory  the  Great.  Holy  Scripture  and  the  immortal 
works  of  the  three  last-named  Fathers  were  the  school  in 
which  this  apostolic  man  fitte<l  himself  to  beome  an  instru- 
inent  of  the  divine  Teacher.  Burning  with  a  true  shep- 
lords  love  ami  anxiety  for  the  welfare  and  necessities  of 
the  Church  universal,  as  well  as  ,.f  individual  localities, 
this  divinely  inspired  man  cccupies  a  front  rank  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Church  fur  holy  learning.  And  when  pious 
1^'Seml  tells  us  that  the  Holy  (ihost  appeared  to  this  Pope 
'"  the  form  of  a  dove,  giving  hin,  thoughts  and  words  for 
lus  voluminous  writings,  we  but  hear  an  expressi.m  of  the 

"'iboun.led  admiratH.n  with  whieh  the  an.-ient  world  looked 
'"P<"'  tlns-respkuulent  Father  of  the  (Ihurch.  lie  died  in 
tlie  year  (i()4. 


35-    The    Four    Great    Fathers    of   the    Eastern 

Church. 

'•  I  saw  lour  an,L,M'l.s  staiuiiiiir  oi.  ll,(."|„„r  .■..nicrs  of  the  nirth  "- 
AP0(  A|,^  psK  vii.  1, 

The  lirst  ..f  these  four  illustrious  servants  of  God  was 
St.    Basil,   Archbishop  of  Ca>sarea   in.    Cappa<locia.       His 
JMUUiMiliu^  Kijr^iiie^  ^.^^  imdH^mlj  pruH-t-ly  W5  ho- 


n 


i 


iWri 


122 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


ill  mind  and  heart,  in  position  and  efficiency.  He  was 
moreover  a  bulwark  agiilw&t  the  Arians,  and  at  the  same 
time  a  hero  of  Ch^^tian  charity  and  a  mine  of  sacred 
knowledge.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  theologian  and 
preacher,  also  as  a  director  of  souls  for  religious  people. 
He  drew  up  the  lirst  code  of  rules  for  a  religious  life,  and 
was  distinguished  as  director  of  Christian  ceremonies, 
which  heVeduced  to  order  and  carried  out  with  becoming 
grace  and  si)lendor.     He  died  m  the  year  379. 

■  His  younger  brother,  St.  Gregory,  Bishop  of  Nyssa, 
was  also  a  glorious  champion  of  truth  against  the  Arians, 
and  yet  a  gentle,  i)eace-loving  man,  and  an  able  writer, 
whose  numerous  works  form  one  of  the  most  valuable 
treasures  of  the  Church.     He  died  in  395. 

With  these  two  holy  ])rothers  was  most  intimately 
united  in  esteem  and  friendshij)  the  third  of  the  three 
great  Cappado(!ians,  St.  Ciregory  Nazianzen.  He  i)re- 
pared  himself  for  the  service  of  the  Church  by  attending 
the  most  famous  schools  of  sacred  and  ])rofane  learning  in 
Palestine,  Alexandria,  and  Alliens.  The  theatre  of  his 
chief  trinmi)lis  was  the  city  of  Constantinople,  which 
ho  ])urged  of  error  with  irresistible  power  and  success. 
After  years  of  hesitation,  he  at  length  accepted  the  epis- 
copate of  this  city,  but  left  it  again  in  381  in  order  to 
close  his  long,  active,  and  useful  life  in  holy  solitude.  Ho 
died  in  the  year  390. 

Seven  years  later  we  see  St.  John  Chrysostom  occupy- 
ing the  ])atriarchal  chair  of  Constantinople.  He  was  dis- 
tinguished as  a  preacher,  as  an  ex])ounder  of  holy  Scrij>- 
ture,  as  a  bishop  of  untiring  activity  an^  chauitable  nu-ek- 
ness,  and  also  of  immovable  fidelity  to  faith  and  priestly 
independence. 

A  hidden  life,  passed  in  prayer,  mortification,  and 
study  with  tho*monks  of  the  desert,  had  furnisbed  liim  with 
that  great  power  which  he  afterwards  re(piired  in  his  nniny 
contests  with  the  heretics,  and  with  treacherous  brethren, 


.;|i 


HISTORY    OF   TIIK   CHUKCII    COUNCILS.  123 

and  against  the  vices  of  the  imperial  court.     He  died  in 
banishment  in  the  year  407. 

Such  are  the  great  and  glorious  men  whom  the  Church 
honors  as  her  spiritual  Fathers.  Yet  it  is  not  to  be  sup- 
l)osed  that  our  divine  P'ounder  and  Teacher  with  the 
elose-oji^the  Church's  infancy  ceased  to  raise  up  other 
chos(>h  and  eminent  servants,  whom  he  endowed  with  sim- 
ilar gifts  o|  the  Holy  Ghost.  Each  century  down  to  our 
own  time  has  enjoyed  zealous  and  able  teachers  of  extraor- 
dinary power  and  gifts,  raised  up  in  his  mercy  by  the 
divine  Teacher,  Jesus  Christ,  in  order  to  manifest  through 
them  his  living  presence  in  his  holy  Church.  But  they 
are  not  infallible  any  more  than  the  early  Fathers  were 
mdividually.  Although  chosen  men,  and  inspired  by 
God,  they  are  s^ill  mortal  and  liable  to  error,  and  more 
than  once  has  the  Church  been  called  upon  to  lament  the 
sad  fall  of  one  or  more  of  her  most  distinguished  teachers. 


36.  The  History  of  the  Church  Councils. 

"  How  comely  is  wisdom  for  the  aged,  and  understanding  and 
council  to  men  of  honor!  Much  experience  is  the  crown  of  old 
men." — Ecclehiasticis  xxxv. 

Altogether  diflferont  from  the  individual  teachers  is 
the  case  in  regard  to  Councils  of  the  Church;  those 
remarkable  and  famous  assemblages  of  the  bishops  of 
every  land,  wliich  have  been  called  together  by  the  Popes 
m  times  of  extraordinary  necessities  or  struggles, .  and 
over  which  tliey  presided  cither  in  person  or  by  a  duly 
authorized  rei)resentative.  The  General  Church  Conven- 
tions, or  (Ecumenical  Councils,*  constitute  and  compose 

*  Quite  different  from  these  are  liie  National  Councils,  where  the 
bishops  of  a  whole  nation  convcne'together.  Provincial  Councils 
are  those  where  the  bishops  of  a  Churcli  province  assemble  under' 
the   presid^iK:y  of    their  archbishop.     Dioc(!sati   s^midi  are  {hn^ 


H 


124 


CHKIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


■i    #': 


I 


the   whole   teaching   Church.     As  this    entire    teaching 
Clmrcli  has  received  tlie  divine. promise  that  the  gates  of 
heft— that  is  to  say,  error  and  falseliood— shall  not  prevail 
against   it,   tlie  General  Councils   are,  by  a  special   and 
supernatural  assistance  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  infallible  in  all 
their   decisions  regarding   faith  and    morals.     Hence  all 
Christendom   has  ever  directed   its   most   reverent    and 
aj^tentive   gaze   upon    tlu3se  Councils,  as  upon   spectacles 
which  are  both  important  and  sacred.     During  the  period 
of  their  sessions,  Catholics  Juivc  always  multiplied  their 
prayers  td' heaven,  begging  for  the  Fathers  of  the  Council 
light  from  heaven,  jjeace  and  concord,  and  victory  in  the 
Holy  Giiost.     AVhatever  any  single  bishop  may  choose  to 
utter  in  such  a  council  is  of  course  nothing  more  than  his 
own  personal  testimony.     But  when,  after  a  series  of  ses- 
sions protracted  for  months  and  sometimes  for  years,  and 
during,  which  the  'Father^  of  the  Councils,  by  study  and 
mutual   discussion,  have   done    their  best  to  present  the 
truth  pure  and   unadulterated,  the  General  Council  sol- 
emnly and  formally  pronounces  its  decision,  and  the  Pope 
confirms  it,  then  such  decision  is  no  longer  a  mere  opinion 
of  a  human  court.     It  is  the  incontrovertible  doctrine  of 
Jesus  Christ  himself.     He  wlio  will  not  hear  it'  refuses  to 
hear, Christ,  and    thus   by  his  own  "act  excludes   himself 
from    the   kingdom   of  Christ.     Hence   the   sentence   of 
Anathema  is  naught  else  than  the  solemn  declaration  of 
the  Church,^ that  such   an  undutiful  son  has  of  his  own 
choice  withdrawn  from  her  communion  and'- family. 

The  first  instance  of  sucii  a  G(*iieral  Council  of  the 
Church  occurred  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  in  the  year 
51.  Some  Ch^>istians,  who  had  been  recently  converted 
from  Judaism  to  the  Ciiurch,  maintained  that  the  converts 
from  paganism  should  have  tlien^iclves  circumcised,  and 
observe,  even    as  Christians,   the    rites    and  customs' pre- 

wljfre  tlio  priests  of  ii  diocese  meet  and  discuss  Claircii  (luestions 
under  the  leii#of  their  bishop. 


y 


HISTORY   OF   T;i^ENTY   GENERAL   COUNCILS. 


125 


scnbfid  by  tl,e^Jowi«]i  law.  Tlien  tlie  Ai,ostles  and  the 
ancients,  or  pm,.ts,  met  together  in  Jerusalem  to  decide 
the  points  under  dispute.  St.  Peter,  the  Prince  of  the 
Apostles,  opened  the  Council.  Other  Apostles  spoke  after 
him,  especially  Barnabas,  Paul,  and  James.  Finally  a 
unanimous  decision  was  pronounced.  It  was  not  a  human 
and  fallible  decision,  but  a  divine  definrtion;  for  the  A]>os- 
tlcs  distinctly  said:  -It  hath  seemed  good  to  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  to  us  to  lay  no  further  burden  upon  you  than, 
these  necessary  things."— Acts  xv. 


37.  History  of  the  Twenty  General  Councils. 

"Whilst  they  were  speaking  these  things.  Jesus  stood  in  the 
midst  of -them  and  saitli  to  tlieni:  Peace  be  to  you;  it  is  I  fear  not  " 
— Li'K»  xxiv.  3().  '  .  ■ 

Adopting  this  first  Council  for  its  model  and  guide 
the  Church  has  held  during  the  lapse  of  eighteen  centuries 
twenty  (Ecumenical  Councils.  At  the  first,  h<>ld  at  Nice 
m  the  year  325,  the  errors  broached  by  Arius  in  opjwsition 
to  the  Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  were  condemned.  At  the 
secdnd,  which  convened  at  Constantinople,  in  the  year 
381,  tlii)  errors  of  Macedonius  iigainst  the  Divinity  of^he 
Holy  Ghosfwere  condemned.  The  third  Council,'  held  at 
Ephesus,  in  the  year  431,  declared,  in  oj.position  to  Nes- 
tonus,  the  revealed  truth  that  there  is  but  one  person  in 
Christ,  and  not  two  separate  persons;  it  defined  that  this 
person  is  divine,  and  eonsequentlv  it  established  and  con- 
[inned,  against  the  blasphemies  of  the  same  heretic,  the 
l">nor  and  dignity  df  Mary  as  Mother  of  God.     'VA^  fou 


./ 


ouncil,   held    at  Chalcedon 
against  the  lieretic   Eutyches,  and    defined  tl 
teaching  of  faith,  that  in  Christ  tl 


natures,  the  divine  and  the 


rtb 
in    the   year  451,  declared 

le  revealed 
lere  are   two  distinct 


=*ft  ojve  divine " 


uman,  hypostatically  united 


/ 


^^trntTaf  cbntdSted  points  were  set 


w 


M 


126 


CHRIST   IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


tied  in  the  fifth  and  sixtli  General  Councils  at  Constanti- 
nople, in  the  years  553  and  G80.  The  seventh  Council, 
held  at  Nice,  in  the  year  787,  sustained  and  confirmed  the 
time-honored  and  jjious  veneration  of  images.  In  the 
eighth  General  Council,  held  at  Constantinople,  in  the 
year  8()9,  the  wickedness  of  Photius,  who  was  seeking  to 
separate  the  Oriental  from  the  AVkistern  Ciiurch,  was 
exposed  and  condemned.  Unhappily  the  sad  disruption 
was  soon  after  effected,  and  lieiice  tiiis  was  the  last  General 
Council  ever  held  in  the  Eastern  Churcli. 

Tlie  four  following  were  held  at  the  Lateran  Basilica  in, 
Rome.  In  the  yelir  ir^3,  the  inde])endence  and  freedom 
of  the  Churcli  from  the  civil  power  of  the  emperor  were 
declared  :iiid  maintained.  In  1131),  the  evil  effects  of  the 
attemj)ted  dismemberment  which  Peter  Leonis  had  in 
vain  essay(Hl  were  elfectiv(>ly  remedied,  and  the  baneful 
doctrines  of  the  fanatical  Arnold  of  Brescia  were  rejected 
and  condemned.  In  the  year  1179,  the  errors  of  the  Albi- 
geuses  and  Waldeiises  were  condeiniied.  Finally,  in  1215, 
in  the  twelfth  (Jeneral  Council,  called  also  the  fourth 
Lateran,  an  effort  Avas  made  to  reunite  the  Greek  Church 
with,  the  Latin.  The  errors  of  Berengarius,  which  had 
been  already  refuted  in  i)revi(ms  years,  and  which  denied 
the  Real  Presence  of  Christ  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  were 
again  rejected,  and  the  true  Catholic  doctrine  regarding 
that  sacred  mystery  was  more  firmly  established  and  elaci- 
dated  by  the  adoption  of  the  term  transubstantiation— a 
theological  word  used  to  express  the  change  of  one  sub- 
stance into  another.  At  the  siime  Coiuicil,  the  dogmas  of 
the  Blessed  Trinity,  and  of  the  Incarnation  of  the  Son  of 
God,  both  of  which  had  ever  been  taught  and  believed  in 
the  Church,  were  realfirmed.  and  clearly  and  briefly  formif- 
lated.  Many  other  heresies  were  condemned  in  this 
Council. 

The  thirteenth  and  fourteenth^Councils  were  held  in 


HISTORY    OF   TAVENTV    GENERAL    COUNCILS.       127 

In  the  first  of  tliese,  all  Christendom  was  exhorted  to  take 
np  arms  and  to  defend  themselves  against  the  incursions 
of  the  Saracens.  In  the  Council  held  in  1274,  the  ancient 
doctrine  of  the  Procession  of  tiie  Holy  Ghost  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son  was  renewed  and  confirmed,  and  the 
union  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  Churches  was. established 
to  be  severed  again  after  a  very  brief  duration.  In  the 
fifteenth  Council,  the  excesses  and  errors  of  several  asso- 
ciations  were  condemned,  and  the  order  of  the  Knight 
Templars  was  su})pressed. 

The  next  four  Councils  luive  been  termed  Reformation 
Councils,  because  in  them  laws  ^nd  regulations  were  estab-  ' 
lished  with  a  view  of  putting  an  end  to  manv  abuses  that 
had  crept  into  the  public  admijiistration,  and  into  the 
lives  of  people  and  clergy.  These  Councils  were  held  as 
follows:  the  sixteenth  at  Constance,  from  1414'  to  1418- 
the  seventeenth  at  Basel,  and  afterwards  at  Ferrara  and 
Florence,  from  1431  to  1447;  the  eighteenth  in  the  Lateran 
at  Rome,  in  1512.  The  nineteenth  Coitncil  was  assembled 
at  Trent,  and,  with  some  intermissions,  lasted  from  1545 
to  15G;3.  At  Constance  the  dismal  divisions  caused  by  the 
schismatical  antipope^Vere  healed,' and  the  errors  of  Huss 
and  Wickliffc  were  condemned.  In  Florence  was  again 
effected  a  short-lived  reunion  between  the  Churches  of  the 
East  and  the  West,  At  Trent  the  disastrous  errors  of 
the  so-called  Reformers  were  rejected  and  condemned. 

•  The  twentieth  General  Conncil  of  the  Church  was  called 
together  by  the  great  arid  glorious  Pius  the  Ninth,  in  the 
t\venty-fourth  year  of  his  pontificate.  The  first  session 
was  held  at  the  Vatican  in  Rome,  on  the  festival  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  the 
eighth  day  of  December,  1869.  Nearly  eight'  hundred 
prelates  of  the  Church  responded  i)ersonally  to  the  call  of 
the  Vicar  of  Christ.  Although  the  enemies  of  the  Church, 
on  all  sides,  used  every  effort,  both  by  threats,  falsehood, 
jui4«i&may,  to  disittrij  thB  peaceful  proceedings  of  tfie  = 


w 


V 

\\ 


u 


128 


CHRIST    IN    HIS    (MIUUOII. 


('OUiU'il,  tluMi-  poisoiicd  arrows  foil  luirmloss  u(,'!iiiist  tlio 
Uovk  of  IVtcr.  Tlio  womltM-fiil  IniiKniillity  of  soul,  the 
uiKshiikeu  I'ontidoiico  in  ({od,  (ho  .iiiu'oii(|iu'nil»lo  fortitiulo, 
nil  so  plainly  shown  in  ovory  word,  in  oyory  not,  look,  iind 
gosUu-o  of  tho  vonoriiblo  I'ontilT,  woro  not  in  vain.  Tho 
grand  and  imposing  Council  \fas  oponod.^md  I'ntoroil  upon 
its  dutios,  rogariUess  of  tlio  insane  oi)po^ition  of  unho- 
lit>vors.  The  prevailing  errors  of.our  agt  ;vere  nicrcUossly 
eondemnod.  The  Fathers  lifted  the  veil  from  iho  hypo- 
eritical  face  of  that  fals(>  seience  of  Our  day  whiyh  would 
fain  build  its  })roud  throne  upon  the  ruins  of  divij|>  faith. 
Tho  independenee,  rights.  iCnd  privileges  of  (Jod^^-t^uirch 
were  jusserted.  On  the  lA^ih  of  .Inly,  ISTO,  tlm^^ineiont 
belief  in  the  Infallibility  of  the  Pope  when  delining  miUters 
of  faith  was  formulated  into*  a  li\ed  dogma,  and  solemnly 
and  otlieially  i)romnlgated  as  sueh. 


38.  The  Infallibility  of  the  ^ope. 

"In  (Mirist  .losus,  1  am  !ii>pointr(t  ii  prnu-hor  and  an  ai>()stlf.  I 
say  tl»c  tnitli.  ]  lie  not;  a.  doitor  of  tlu>  Cu'ntilcs  in  failli  aiullrulh." 
—I.  TtMOTUv,  ii.  7. 

n 

By  the  inspired  aetion  of  the  \'atiean  Council,  the  sub- 
lime teaehing-otrice  of  the  Successi)rof  IVterwas  solemidy 
set  up  in  its  proper  phiee.  before  the  eyes  of  the  whofe 
astonished  world.  -There  were  not'  wanting  silly  and 
wicked  men,  who  end(>avored  by  niisrei)respntation  and 
idle  threats  to  undermine  the  strength  -dud  lessen  the  dig- 
nity of  this  grand  and  bold  movement  on  the  part  of  tlie 
Fathers  of  the  Council.  ^They  would  fain  make  the  world 
believe  that  the  Vatican  'Couneii.  had  made  a  god  of  a  sin- 
fnl.  fallible,  mortal  man.  What  folly!  The  Pope  is,  in 
v^ry  deed  and  truth,  infallible.  Hut^his  docs  not  mean 
that  he  is  imj>eceable;  that  is  to  S5^5<incapable  tif  being  a 
sinner  personally.     Xor  does  it  mean  that  l)e  cannot  err 


ly^- 


^^  " 


INFALLinTLITr^)F  H'TTE   POPE 


129 


M 


<%■ 


".   US  own  person.      He  is,  of-  course,  fi  man,  and  will  bo 
sucl.  till  death.      Ik,  can  TIT  in  (iris  unof!k-ial  teachings. 
He  can  err  even  whi-n  .leci.li.i^4s  a  leafnM  and  experi- 
enced man  on  .p.estions  of  profane  and  sacred  knowledge 
or  even  in  ordaining  matters  of  (.'hurch  discipli.te      It  is 
only  when,  in  virtue  of  his  sacred  ofljce  and  jmsition,  ar^ 
Shepherd  of  Christ's  fohl  an<l  as  authori/ed .teacher  of  all   ") 
tlinstians,  and  by  virtue  of  his  su])reme  apostolical  author- 
ity, and  by  virtue  of  the  assis(anc(>  that  our  <livine  Saviour 
Ims  promised  to  S(.  I>,.ter  and   his  successors,  ho  decides 
and  dehnesa.p.estion  of  faith  and  morals  as  binding  upon 
ti.e  whole  (Church,  that  the   l>ope  of  Rome  is  infallible. 
.Such  was  fh(>  tem.hingof  the  Vatican  Counc'ilon  the  ques- 
f'on  of.  the   Infallibility  of  (he  Pope.     And,  in  truth    it 
was   nyt  a  new  doctrine,   but  an   ancient,   timo-hongi-cd 
be  lef,  that  was  delined  an<l  promulgated  on  the  18th  of 
.  uly    I87()^  by  the  Fathers  in   Council  assembled.     Our    ^* 
Lord  himself.  Jesus  Hi.rist,   proclaiim>d  this  doctrine  io^      • 
the  world  more  than  eighfeen  centuries  ago,  when  he  said     ^ 
^leer:|^llH,umll'ete^and<^^^  ' 

m>  (^hurch,  and  t  le  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevailagainst 
It.        have  prayed  for  thee  that  thy  faith  fail  not  "     • 

ll'ough    in    former    times,    before   this   doctrine™'     ' 
delined  dogmatically,  some   eminent  persons   held  other- 
opinioiKs  on  this  subjVct,  yet  the  great  body  of  the  doctors  • 
of  the  Church  have  in  all  ages  expressed  themselves  cl.arlv  '    / 
on    nfall.b.l.ty,  whilst  the  whole  universal  Church  his  at^.' 
all  tunes  accepted  as  matters  of  faith  all  decisions  of  the 
'opo.^.  and  with   that   complete   submission  and  docility 
H'hich  imiicate  a  firm  belief  in  the  infallibility  of  the  hic^h- 
estiiu(hoi-ify  on  earth.  '^ 

It  could  not  be  otherwise.      Our  divine  Saviour  has  set 

up  firmly  and  permanently,  within  his  Church,  a  supreme, 

"Hfaihng  teaching  authority,  to  whiqh  the  faithful  in  every 

age,  w  urn  differences  arise  among  them  regarding  ques- 

..tixm^&dO^e^n  h^  recour^,  and  receive,  with  unquaT™^ 


u"- 


,i'^  *> 


'V' 


130 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


i'i 


fied  confidence,  a  positive  and  infallible  decision.  But 
centuries  may  elapse,  and  have  elapsed,  witfiout  its  being 
practicable  to  assemble  a  General  Council.  Now  the  faitlv- 
ful  must  necessarily  be  assured  of  their  faith  without 
delay.  Hence  there  must  always  be  some  power  to  ])ro- 
nounce  at  once  on  disputed^ points.  To  whom  does  this 
office  and  authority  to  decide  more  iJuvo])erly'  and  justly 
belong  than  to  the  lawful  successor  of  liim  whom  Christ 
appointed  to  be- the  foundati(nj-s(;one  of  his  Church,  and 
to  whom  he  GTitrusted  the  keys  of  his  kingdom  on  earth, 
the  Pope  ?  How  can  the  Po})e  pronounce  a  decision,  safe 
and  sure  and  certain  to  the  doubting,  and  consoling  to  the 
believing,  unless '  he  possess,  through  supernatural  assist- 
ance granted  for  the  i)urpose,  the  prerogative  of  infalli- 
bility ? 

Hence  all  Christendom  returns  to  its  divine  Lord  and 
Master,  Jesus  Christ,  its. heartfelt  thanks- for  this  sublime 
and  unfailing  teaching  authority,  which  he  himself  has 
constantly  exercised  thrcmghout  all  ages,  in  the  i)erson  of 
the  Poi)e,  his  visible  representative  before  mankind.  When 
we  see  how,  on  every  side  of  us,  those  who  dwell  beyond  the 
pale  of  the  Church  are  constantly  changing  from  one 
opinion  to  another,  how  each  individual  interprets  accord- 
ing to  his  own  private  notions,  and  differently  from  every- 
body else,  the  sacred  pages  of  Holy  Writ,  we  congratulate 
ourselves  upon  the  bright  and  shining  light  vouchsafed  by 
Christ  to  our  Church;  we  appreciate  more  and  more  the 
priceless  blessings  of  unity  and  security  granted  through 
infallibility;  we  cling  more  closely,  and  with  renewqd  con- 
fidence and  hope,  to  the  immovable  rock  sustaining  our 
Church.  We  unite  our  voices  to  St.  Ambrose,  and  repeat 
with  gladness  and  triumph,  "  T^hi  Petnis,  ibi  Ecdesia' — 
"Where  Peter  is,  there  is  the  Church."  We  make  a  com- 
forting act  of  faith  in  the  decision  rendered  by  the  Fathers 
of  the  Council  of  Florence,  in  1439:  ''The  Roman  Pon- 
tiff is^  really  and  truly  the  successor  of  Peter,  the  Prince 


inpXllibtlity  of  the  pope.  131 

_  of  the  Apostles  .and  the  Vicar  of  Christ,  the  Head  of  the 
Universal  Church-  and,  in  quality  of  Father,  also  the 
teacher  of  all  Christians;  recwving  through  St.  Peter  the 
power  and  authority  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  " 

_    Now,  if  the  Council  of  Florence,  nearly  five  hundred 
years  ago,  thus  clearly  defined  the  ample  powers  of  the 
.  Chief  Pastor  of  all  Christendom,  and  if,  as  is  really  the 
case,  three  a,c(.menical  synods  have  heen  held  since  that 
time,  th,  ol^iection,  made  hy  some,  that,  since  the  defini- 
tion of  the  Infallihility  of  the  Pope,  all  General  Councils 
are  unnecessary,  falls  to  the  ground  at  once.     Such  objec- 
tion, ,n  any  case,  would  be  groundless.    As  in  the  past,  so 
will  It  be  m  the  future.      Every  cpiestion  of   faith  and 
mora  s  to   be  decided    will  be  subjected  to  a  rigid   and  ' 
searching  examination,  which  will  be  best  conducted  amid 
an  assembly  of  all  the  b^shoj.s,  if  the  circumstances  of  the 
times  will  permit  such  meeting: 


CHAPTER   V 


THE   HISTORY   OF  THE    HIERARCHY, 

OF    CHURCH    RIGHTS.   AND   OF 

CHURCH    PENALTIES. 


CiriUST  LIVKS    IN  JUS  CIIUlUIl  A8    KIN(J   AND   LKGISLATOlt. 

39-  The  Kingly  Office  in  the  Church. 

"We  sec  Jesus,  for  llie  sulTeriiig  of  (leatli,  crowucd  with  glory 
iiiid  honor.  For -in  tlmt  God  Jnuh  suhjiHilcd  all  tliiugs  to  him,  he 
h;ft  nothing  not  subject  to  liini."— IIkhukwh  11.  8.  ». 

TTTJIKN  Pontius  Pilute,  tlic  Honiiin  govorn6r,  ml- 
VV  dressed  to  onr  beloved  Ivord  the  question,  "Art 
tlion  a  king?"  Christ  answered  decidedly,  "  Thou  snyest 
it,  I  am  a  king:  for  sueli  I  was  horn,  and  for  such  eanie  1 
into  the  world."  Oftentimes,  too,  he  styled  his  (Jhurch 
his  "kingdom."  As  this  Lord  and  Saviour  still  lives  in 
his  Chnreh,  and  shall  live  forever,  so,  too,  must  the  kingly 
offieo  still  exist  visibly  within  her,  and  for  all  time;  tlmt 
is  to  say,  lus  the  Chnreh  is  a  visible  kingdom,  and.  indeed, 
the  kingdom  of  Christ,  who  is  himself  a  king,  she  must 
have  a  visible  government.  To  this  system  of  govern- 
ment ai)pertain  not  only  the  duly  nppoi^ited  and  lawfully 
commissioned  officials,  but  also  the  jiistly  and  logi^lly 
enacted  laws,  according  to  which  these  officers  must  gov- 
ern themselves  and  the  general  (Jhnrch.  Hut  thp  Founder 
of  the  Church  has  said  expressly,   "  My  kingdom  is  not  of 


IIINTOKV    OF    TIIK    lII>:UAi:(|JV. 


133 


inquisition   of  m)i;_j    „^ ^ 


-■  to  ,ui,„ini.su.,.  civil  gov., ;;,„;,*"''  *r'««^' 

"Iiiili  «iirli  liarni()iii„i,fly  („.,,.|i,,.,.  .,,„,     ■,     ,   "-M™"" 

1 1.0  wc.|f;,rc  „f  u„.  i„.„„i;,  ,.,?l  ,  ■"  ''J- »'J«.  to- 

ll ,1  IH"]*!   lollrelivc'ly  and     ri(Jivii]iiillv 

l'"H.  c„„um,e  f,,,„.  (i,„|,  and  l,oi|,  arc  (u„ndol  on         r 
-,ed  o,.d„>a„...o.     i,„,e„  „,„  a,„„„n,y       t  ,,vil  ',  '" 

i..ulr  :'■:;.';::,::  ;f;:'"'^v''"  '"■  -'"  "■"^"»- 


40.  History   of  the   Grades,  or  Order  of  Dignity 
among  the  Glergy  of  the  Church  '^' 

t  - 

..  I.„ili        ","",'''■»'  '-'.>".  na„„.lv  fhe  l™diing  (■l„„.c|, 
.'  ',    '    ""•'  '''"■^y  "'  'I.'.  'liff.'.-o..t  ranks  or  Km,)"' 

lawful  „n!  1™  ,'.''',"'''' W""  "'"'  «'■  l-o'-'rand  l,i» 


f  Iw. 


r«  of ^toTmi,  anorwuFcIi  carjed 


134 


CJIKIST   IX    HIS    (JHUliCH. 


Popes.  AVe  know  that  Pope  Clement,  who  vhis  only  the 
third  in  succession  after  St.  ]Peter,  wrote  from  the  city  of 
Rome  a  pastoral  letter  to  the  i)eople  at  Corinth,  in  which 
he  authoritatively  counsels  them  concerning  their  strifes 
and  contentions,  and  j)lainly  says  that  he  "  dare  not 
depose  their  jjriests  who  liad  been  correct  and  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  their  duties."  And  at  the  very  tiirAi  that 
Clement  sent,  from  so  great  a  distance,  this  letter  to  the 
Corinthians,  the  holy  Evangelist  St.  John  was  still  alive 
and  in  their  immediate  vicinity.  How,  then,- could  St. 
Clement  have  presumed  to  interfere  in  the  Church  affairs 
of  so  remote  a  congregation,  and  during  the  lifetime  of 
an  Apostle,  if  Christendom  did  not  recognize  the  bishoj) 
of  Rome  as  the  general  head  of  the  Churcli?  Hence,  St. 
Ignatius,  who  was  himself  a  disciple  of  the  Apostles,  styles 
the  Church  of  Rome  "the  Mistress  of  the  Covenant  of 
love,"  tliat  is,  of  (Christianity.  Other  Fathers  of  the 
ancient 'Church  assert  the  same,  truth.  St.  Irenaeus 
declares:  "  On  account  of  her  mighty  pre-eminence,  a^- 
believcrs  must  agree  witii  the  Church  of  Rome."  Ana 
Tertullian,  even  after  he  had  fallen  into  error,  testified 
that  the  bishop  of  Rome  "is  the  bishop  of  l)ishoi)s."  St. 
Cyprian,  too,  styles  the  episcopal  see  of  Rome,  "the  chair 
of  Peter,  the  centre  of  ecclesiastical  unity,  With  which  all 
bishops  must  ])e  in  communion."  We  see,  tiierefore,  how 
far  out  of  the  way  these  people  are,  who  imagine  that  they 
utter  a  reproach  against  our  good  sense  when  they  call 
us  papists  of  ultramontanes.*  The  disgrace  is  not  ours, 
but  they  themselves  are  to  be  pitied  ;  for  they  are  but  lit- 
tle conversant  with  holy  Scripture  and  tiie  history  of  early 
('hriatianity,  and  they  give  the  lie  to  their  awn  fathers., 
wiio  but  a  couj)h!  of  centuries  ago  were  truly  loyal  to  the 
Popes. 

*  lTltrnmonl(iu«  is  a  term  applied  tb  those  (^atholicH  who  are  in 
faitliful  commuiiion  with  tlie  Pope.  The  word  itself  means  "over 
the  mountain;"  that  is,  beyond  the  Alps. 


^^^^^iiia^ 


HISTOKY    OF   TIIK    lUEKAltCIIY 


136 


As  the  Popes  are  tlie  lawful  successors  of  St.  Peter,  so 
the  bishops  are  the  lawful  successors  of  the  other  apostles 
Jl^ven  in  the  apostolic  age  the  prelates  maintained  their 
superiority  over  the  other  ministers  of  the  Church      Thus 
^  although  in  the  is^land  of  Crete,  at  Ephesus,  and  in  the  seven 
churches  to  whom  St.  John  in  his  Apocalyi>se  addresses 
himself,  there  were  several  ministers  of  the  Church    yet 
the  apostles  Paul  and  John,  in  their  epistles,  address' but 
one  person,  who  a].pears  to  iiave  been  a  bishop  intrusted 
witii  the  spiritual  chargo  of  the  entire  Christian  commu- 


Tlip  Catholic  Hierarchy. 


n.ty.     We  have  from   Tertullian  a  very  remarkable  deci- 
s.on  on    his  question  :    -  The  right,"  he  says,  "  to  baptize 
t>olongs  to   he  higher  or  superior  priest,  who  is  the  bishop  ; 
"•»<!  after  hm,  to  (he  priests  and  deacons,  who,  however 
"iiist  be  authorized  by  the  bishop." 

At  a  very  early   period  the    individual    bishops   of   a 

neighborhood  conceived  the  idea  of  uniting  themselves  in 

V'T"^""  ■"'"""•  ^'''"g  tbe  precedence  t.>  the  bishop  who 

"^'^^^^  t*^Tnotfoi,(HT9,  or  n.<?Il,oi-eItv,tfr  chief  town  of 


mssmi^m 


1:1 


'I 


m 


.136 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHUKCH. 


■  0 


the  province.  Thus  Jerusalem  (afterwards  Caesarea),  An- 
tioch,  Alexandria,  and  later  CoustantinOpldT,  ^ind  other 
cities  were  considered  as  metropolitan  or  mother-churches 
■  of  their  surrounding  districts  respectively.  Among  these 
metrojjolitan  dioceses,  after  the  Church  had  begun  to 
spread  wider  and'*more  rapidly,  anotiier  order  or  office 
was  soon  esta.bli.shed ;  for  the  prelates  in  the  most  impor- 
tant cities  were  styled  patriarchs,  by  virtue  of  which  title 
they  enjoyed  in  many  points  a  superiority  over  the  arch- 
bishoi)s,  as  these  did  over  their  suffragan  bisho])s. 

At  a  very  early  i)eriod  the  bishops  had  ministers  to 
assist  them,  who,  although  by  virtue  of  their  ordination 
enjoyed  full  sacerdotal  powers,  yet  were  i)crmitted  to 
exercise  them  only  when  commissioned  by  their  respec- 
tive bishops.  These  were  the  simple  prj^bsts,  whose  duty 
it  was  to  assist  the  bishops  in  tlmt  functions  in  the  prin- 
cipal congregation,  or  in  the  surrounding  districts  of  the 
neighborhood,  as  well  also  to  act  in  tTieir  places  in  case  of 
necessity.  In  the  fourth  century,  after  the  conversion  of 
the  Emperor  Constantine,  the  Church  grow  so  very  rap- 
idly, that  besides  the  bis]ioj)'s  church  in  the  chief  city, 
many  other  congregations  \yere  formed  both  in  the  city 
and  in  the  surrounding  country,  and  intrusted  to  the  care 
of  these  priests,  who  tlien  became  ])astors.  That  is  to 
say,  they  were  assigned  i)ermanently  to  separate  churcljes, 
with  full  power  to  conduct  ^ivinc  service  and  to  exercise 
the  care  of  souls,  but  always  in  the  name  of  the  bishop. 
St.  Athanasius  describes  the  existenc^e  of  several  jTurishes 
in  the  vicinity  of  Alexandria.  At  the  time  of  the  Conn- 
ed of  Chalcedon,  in  the  year  450,  such  ])arishe8  existed' 
everywhere. 

Besides  the  priest,  we  meet  witli  other  spiritual  assist- 
ants of  the  bishops,  as  was  explained  previously  in-  the 
discourse  on  ])rie8tly  ordination.  The  deacons,  the  insti- 
tution of  whose  office  is  mentioned  in  the  sixth  (diaptcj* 
o|  the  "Acts  of  the  ApostlosJl  occtipied   the  first  p]ai;rfi 


ia^HBH^ 


jssa^Bmmm^m^ 


HISTORY   OF  CHUJiClr   KIGHTS.  I37 

among  these  last.     Besides  having  elmrge  of  the  noo.- 
«.pk  and  needy,  they  were  expected  to  eie  of,  and  tol; 
part  ...  fp„.,t„al  funetions,  sueh  us  preaehing,  baptizh,. 
and  ass,s  ,„g  the  bisl>op  at  the  .sacritice  of  tl>c  n.a^f       ^' 
All   tliese   sp„-,t„al   assisb.nts,    priests,  and   deacons 
when  permanently  attached  to   a  bishop's  ehnrcl,  were 
.cal  cd  eurdn,a Is  m  the  early  times,  from  the  fact    hit  . 
-hops  church  w.«  looked  upon  as  a  centre  or  midd  e- 

r.  d*'";;^'   ™   ""■?"   ""    "'^   «>"o..>.d.ng  ehurd   s 
.nged.     We  may  easily  suppose,  as  was  indeed  the  case 
^c^  ecc  es,asi,cs  were  very  numerous  in  the  ancient  ami  - 
.mothe,  Church  at  Rome  ;  and  as  this  Church  advanced  in 

"  1  r/l'  ;,",'''°r"""''  '*  «'-'"""'"l>came  customary 
to  h,„it  the  t,teof  cardinal  ,0  the  immediate  assistant 
o     he  Popes.     Accordmg  to  a  decision  of  Pope  Sixtus  V., 

c^n    '  T?   ■  ""■'''""'  '"•"■"•■''  ""•"  '"'"■'«"■  ^■""•i""!  dea- 
Tr    ^^T ."""'"'"'  "'"  '"«''  ''™'"''  "'  Christendom 
the  Oouncl  of  the  Pope  ;  and  to  then,  belongs,  especia™; 
smce  the  pontificate  of  Pope  Nicholas  U.  fh   ,059       I 
right  of  electing  the  Popes 


■"      (1    -    '11 


!i.' 


*^i 


41.  The  History  of  Church  Rights. 

"Stand  fast,  and  hold  the  tra<liti„ns  wlml,  vou  have  learned 
whether  by  word,  or  in  onr  epistIo."-TnKssALONiAN8  ii.  R 

'ri,o  digtiiturios  of  tl.o  Ohuroh,  or  ecclosiasticul  author- 

.t.cs   do  not  own   tho  Cln.reh,  nor  its  inferior  ministers, 

nor  U,o  fa,  hful.     Neitl.or  have  thoy  <ho  right  to  govern 

he  Church  of  God    according  to  the^'r  own  whims  and 

jinc.cs.     p„r  the  divinc-lninian  King,  whose  subordinates 

'«y  are,  IS  a  Priyce  of  peace.     Ho  himself  brought  us 

.  «  peace   and  .t  is  his  wish  that  this  peace  of  his  should 

-^Il'Zi^'^'f  "^^^""  npon  earth.     Now  peaces 
--^U.  tm^y  Wficrr  there  lire ^fs^  ordinances  and  judicious 


m 


wm 


138 


CHKlbT   IN    1118   (JllUKCH. 


'■'  ',! 


law^,  iiud  both  of  these  have  existed  in  the  Chul"ch  from 
the  very  beginning.  Both  clergy.and  laity  are  bound  by, 
these  hiws  and  reguhitions,  and  thus 'the  whole  Church  is 
grounded  in  holy  discipline  and  maintained  in  peace- alid 
harmony,  as  Christ  intended.  Ecelesiastieal  ordinances, 
alsb  called  Church-laws,  were  not  enacted  all  at  once,  and 
centuries  elapsed  before  they  reached  the  completeness  in 
which  we  now  possess  them,  as  contained  in  that  law  code 
which  theologians  call  corpus  juris  canonici — the  embodi- 
ment of  canon  law.     They  grew  gradually  from'  the  deci- 

"  sions  of  Church-councils,  from  the  decrees  of  popes,. and 
the  opinions  of  learned  Doctors  and  Fathers  of  the  Cliurch. 
Although  many  of  these  laws,  unlike  divine  _  faith,  are 
liable  to  and  susceptible  of,  change,  according  to  the  cir- 
cumstances of  time  and  place,  yet  they  are  founded  upon 
unchangeable  and  undying  i)rinciples  established  in  the 
Church,  by  Christ  hims6lf  or  by  his  immediate  Apostles. 
A  few  of  the  motk  imi)ortant,  of  these  everlasting  princi- 
ples may  be  bore  adduced  for  the  instruction  and  edifica- 
tion of  the  Christian  reader. 

^1.  The -Catholic  Church  is  the  sole 'and  sacred  spouse 
of  Jesus, Christ.'     Hence,  those  persons  Avho  wilfully  and 

.obstinately  repluliate  the  faith  of  this  universal  Church, 
or  who,  by  great  scandals  and  wickedness  of  life,  cast  dis- 
honor upon  her,  must  be  exccjjnmunicated  or  banished 
from  her  bosom,  till  such  time  as  tliey  repent  and  seek 
readmission  with  a*full  and  sincere  determination  to  make 
ample  satisfaction.  Our  liord  himsqlf  decreed  this  law 
when  he  said:  "Me  who  will  not  hear  the  Church,  let 
him  be  to  thee  as  a  lieathen  ;"  that  is,  let  him  be  consid- 
ered as  outside  of  tiie  palt  of  the  Church.  Tlie  holy  Apostles  , 
themselves  acted  in  accordance  with  this  decree.  St. 
Paul,  for  example,  writes  to  Timothy:  ''This  precept  I 

'commend  to  thee,  0  son  Timothy,  according  to  the  proph- 
ecies going  before  on  thee,  tiiat  thou  war  in  them  a  good 
warfare.    Having  faith  and  a  good  conscience,  whicii  some 


,  HISTORY    OF   CHURCH   RIGHTS.  139 

rejecting  have  made  shipwreck  concerning  the  faith    of 
Mvhom  IS  Hymeneus  and  Alexander,  wlioni  I  liave  delivered 
up  to  batan,  that  they  may  learn  not  to  blaL^pheme  " 

Indeed,  the  Apo.tles  looked  ui,on  a  strictness  of  faith 
and  a  concurrence  in  Christian  teaching  as  of  so  much 
importance,  that  tSt.  Paul  does  not  hesitate  to  declare  that 
If  an  angel  from  heaven  should  come  and  teach  any  other 
doctrine,  he  shonld  be  anathema.     In  the  same  way,  too 
they  treated  other  vi^ces  ;  for  8t.  Paul,  m  the  name  of  ou^ 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  delivered  tlie  blasphemer  at  Corinth  to 
batan,  to  the  destruction  of  -the  liesh,  that  his  soul  might 
be  saved      And  this  power  of  excommunication  existed 
during  all  ages  in  the  Church  down  to  our  own  time,  as  a 
sad  but  necessary  means  of  j.reserving  purity  of  faith  and 
of  maintaining   holy  discipline   in   the   Church  of   God 
Should  the  transgressor enttr  into  himself,  he  would  after' 
ioiigeror  shorter  penance,  be  alxsolved  from  tl.e  sentence 
of  excommunication  and  readmitted  to  the  i.ak'  of  tliat 
Church  from  whieli  he  hadx)f  his  own  choice  gone  forth. 

2.   It  is  of  extreme  advantage  to  thcGhristian  to  follow 
the,  example  of  Christ  and  his  chosen' followers,  and  to 
crucify  the  lusts  of  the  ilesh  by  fasting  and  abstinence 
.  from   certain  kinds   of   food.     The   Church   has    always 
claimed  and  exeivise.l  the  right  to  appoint  common  days 
and  general  seasons  of  fasting.     She  preached  and  ,n-ac- 
tised  bodily  mortification,  from  the  very  earliest  days  of 
her  existence  ;  f,.r  we  find  mention  made,  in  the  first  Gen- 
feral  Council  of  Nice,  of  the  precept  of  fasting,  as  of  a 
very  ancient. ,  well  understood,  and    universally  admitted" 
matter  of  discii)line.     And  although  the  pvescriUl  time 
ot  fasting,  and  Its  ancient  severity,  jiavc  in  the  course  of 
ages  been  very  n.iich  modified  and  moderated,  yet  at  no 
time  did  the  })recei)t  itself  cease  to  exist,  or  to  hav^  bind- 
ing power. 

,3.  Matrimony  having  been  -t^levated  by  Christ  to  the 


rtigmty  a£^  great  mcnmn^iffm  ftw mrxf^nTWmmJmmW 


140 


CHKIST    IN    HIS    OHUKCH. 


T 


f 


necessarily  belong  the  right  and  "the  duty  to  establish  the 
conditions  under  which,  and  thqtmode  in  which,  it  is  to  be 
administered.  She  hat?  alvvays  maintained,  as  an  article 
of  faith,  that  a  lawfully  contracted  and  fully  consum- 
mated marriage  between  two\hrisLians  is  indissoluble.' 
On  the  same  grounds,  she  has,  in  accordance  with  the  will 
of  God,  appointed  dertain  impediments  to  niiirriage  ;  such 
as  near  rehitionship,  affinity,  and  others.  From  the  begin- 
ning, she  ordained  that  matrimony  should  be  administered 
publicly,  that  is,  before  the  face  of  the  Cliurch.  With 
this  view,  the  Council  of  Lateran  decreed  that  every 
betrothment  (sponmlia)  should  be  made  known  ;  while 
the  Council  of  Trent  requires  the  publication  of  the  banns 
three  se])arate  times  at  the  parish-mass  on  Sundays  or  holy 
days  of  obligation.  The  Ciiurch  has  always  looked  upon 
mixed  marriages  as  a  great  misfortune  and  as  threatening 
danger  ;  permitting  tliem  merely  in  order  to  avoid  greater 
evils,  and  always  on  condition  that  the  offspring  sliall 
receive  Catliolic  education  and  training.  The  Church  has 
never  admitted  as  true  and  real  marriages  the  so-called 
civil  marriages,  that  is,  those  ])retended  marriages  per- 
formed before  a  ])olitician,  with  intended  contempt  for  the 
principles  and  blessing  of  the  Church.*  Moreover,  she 
looks  with  a  shudder  upon  the  so-called  married  life  -of 
such  parties,  -and  considers  such  wedlock  a  continued  pro- 
test and  sin  against  the  most  sacred  laws  of  God.  (See 
page  97).  '  "^ 

4.  The  celibacy  of  the  clergy  is  in  keeping  both  with 
their  sublime  calling  and  with  the  sacred  duties  of  their 
office.  Jesus  Christ,  tiie  first  and  greatest  high-priest, 
chose  to  observe  in  his  own  life  perpetual  continency. 
And  according  as  ithe  Church  b'ecame  more  vividly  im- 
pressed with  the  dignity  and  sacredness  of  the  holy  mass, 

*  Where  the  Council  of  Trent  lias  not  been  officially  promul- 
gated, these  marriages  before  politicians,  though  clandestine,  escape 
nullity. 


***'■**"" 


i  \ 


iii^ 


jf^^^^ 


V  OF  cju;kcii  uigiits 


141 


•      "le  more  ardontly  sl,e  must  have  desired  to  see  these  holv 

rrest  ,s  the   bridegroom  of   the  congregation  ol   sonlfi 
'     H,  rnsted  to  his  eare.     Ho  „ust  love  faoLnd  eveVsou 
h  a^pernat„ral  love;  be  wnimg  to  share  his  in"^,  m 
th  the  poor;  must  be  indefatigable  in  the  diseharge  o 
duties  of  h,s  offiee  night  and  day,  and  emplofh 

P    tienf  °r;      ";  '''"'^""  '"■"^•"■-     ^venin  L'e  of 
pe»t.lenW  and  contagious  epidemic,  he  must  not  hesitate 
to  nsk  h,s  health  and  even  his  life  for  his  flock.     It  is  h     " 
happy  pnv.lege  and  sacred  duty  to  defend,  regardless  o 

ioMs  of  H,s  Church,  oven  ,f  such  defence  bring  upon 

ennnties,  nd  cule,  worldly  losses,  imprisonment'  dea  h 

elf:     How  could  the  pr.est  comply  faithfully  with  all 

1.  se   inexorable  obligations,    if   cntrammelled  with   tie 

duties  of  a  husband  and  of  a  father  of  children  ?    He„  e 

til     apostles  renounced  all  things,  even  their  wives    ht 

order  the  more  freely  and  exclusively  to  devote  themselves 

0  the  service  of  Ohri.st;  and  from  their  time  we  nrdate 

civtd  m    he  ministry  living  unmarried  lives.    As  this  edi- 
fying custom  was  ilirea.ened  with,  lapsing  into  disTse   it 

as  made  a  fixed  law  by  the  bishops  Lembled  i    Sos'a 
t.e  synod  of  Elvira.     They  decreed   that  married  men 

c-r'rf  m.,r''T  "f "?  ""'"^"■^'  ^"°""  -'<">»-  ti^  • 

1  Clu  rcT  '  "•,    '"  ■■'  ^'^'  "'"""«■■  ">«  Fathers  of 

declaicd:  "Any  priest  who  contracts  matrimony  shall  be 
deprived  of  his   office."     U'hcn,    now  and  tli,  i n  the 

rof"t';?erni°' "'"""'""  °'  ^°"'«'^  -  "-^  -* 

th    ranks  ^f  7     ,   "^™'  r""''"™  t'"-^"'^"'"'  '"  '"™do 
men     neh"',  ""^  "'"■*^{'  '^'"'  ""»  "'"M'  great  and  good 

i^hri::^zi"''ij2L''i-ii--i»ienforeei 


^^^Q  kw  of  ccIiW^       A  „  1-^  ill  ^^  ^""^  enforced 

==^iSM  ^  eeiifeaoy;     AntHf^  from  time  to  time,  unhappy 


MM 


tl  i 


4t 


"i 


142 


CHRIST   IN   ins   CHURCH. 


dcclesiastics  have  fallen,  and  thereby  plunged  the  Church 
into  grief,  she  Ims  not  forgotten  that  simihir  misfortuues 
have  befallen  oven  married  men  and  maa-ried  preachers  of 
heterodox,  churches,  all  too  often  ;  aild  that  the  Catholic 
priest,  if  he  will  but  avail  liimself  of  the  superabundant 
m&ms  of  grace  placed  at  his  disposal,  and  be  mindful  of 
his  heaven-like  dignity,  may  readily  and  successfully  main- 
tain his  purity  intact,  and  thereby  gain  for  himself  not 
only  the  brightest  of  crowns  in  the  next  world,  but  even 
here  below  secure  the  unbounded  confidence  and  tenderest 
respect  on  the  part  of  those  intrusted  to  his  charge. 


42.  Selection  and  Appointment  of  the  Clergy.—  ° 
Their  Maintenance. 

"'For  this  cause  I  left  thee  in  Crete,  tliat  tliou  shouldst  ordain 
priests  in  every  city,  as  I  also  appointed  thee."— Titus  i.  5. 

■The  right  of  appointing  ecclesiastics  to  any  special 
office  of  the  Chiirch  must  be  confined  to  those  only  whose 
lawful  position  and  relation  to  the  office  in  question,  or 
Vhose  long  and  faithful  services  to  the  Church,  are  a  guar- 
antee that  they  will  make  a  suitable  and  useful  and  disin- 
terested choice.  Hence,  in  the  beginning,  the  first  bish- 
ops were  appointed  by  the  Apostles  themselves.  Later, 
the  bishops  were  chosen  by  the  assembled  ecclesiastics  of 
the  vacant  episcopal  sees,  respectively;  but  under  the 
direction  of  the  neighboring  bishops,  and  in  presence  of 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  faithful.  But  afterwards, 
when  the  Cross  had  gained  complete  victory  over  pagan- 
ism, and  kings  and  governments  had  become  Christian, 
this  right  of  a  voice  in  elections,  which  formerly  was  exer- 
cised by  the  i>eople,  was  gradually  and  imperceptibly 
wrested  from  them  by  'the  more  cunning,  or  more  able 
leaders  and  princes  and  politicians.     And  as  some  subse- 


SELECTION   OF   TUB  CLERGY. 


143 


especially  claimed,  and  for  a  short  time  exercised,  a  right 
of  appointment,   by  means  of  which  many  of  their  un- 
worthy favorites  were  thrust  into  vacant  episcopal  sees; 
(xregory  \IL,  however,  combated  vigorously  this  danger- 
ous abuse   but  it  was  not  till  after  many  struggles,  that  at 
last  a  settlement  was  agreed  upon,  in  the  year  1122  be- 
tween Pope  Calixtus  IL  and  the  emperor  Henry  V  ■■  of 
Germany,  by  virtue  of  Jiich  the  free  election  of  bishops 
was  guaranteed  to  the  Chapters  of  the  respective  cathe- 
drals.    However,  in  order  to  show  a  becoming  res])ect  to 
the  princes  of  the  different  countries,  who  were,  or  at  least 
ougJit  to  be,  the  proper  representatives  of  the  ])eonle   a 
very  important  part  in  the  election  of  bishops  was,  in  the 
course  of  time,  granted  to  these  lay  representatives.     In 
order  to  guard  against  the  appointment  or  election  of  un- 
_   Avorthy  persons  to  so  sublipie-and  sacred  an  office  as  that 
of  the  episcojjacy,  the  Pope  always  reserved  to  himself  the 
right  of  confirming  or  rejecting  the  choice  made  by  the 
electors. 

The  choice  of  m  other  ecclesiastics  in  a  diocese  be- 
onged,   m   the   beginning,    by  common   consent,    to    the 
b.sliop     Of  this  fact,  8t.  Jerome  assures  us,  when  he  says: 
Ihe  bishops  have  the  right,  in  their  own  districts,  to 
uppomt   the   priests.")     Yet,   in  very  early  times,   many 
bishops  used  to  call  to  their  aid  and  counsel,  in  making 
an  a])pointlnent,  the  other  j.riests  at  their  dioceses,  and 
even  the  laity.     Again,  in  later  times,  the  bishops  granted 
to  such  princes,   monasteries,^  and  communities   as  were 
generous  enough  to  support  ai)arish  with  their  own  means 
1.0  i)riv.loge  of  designating  their  clergyman,  whom   he 
himself  then  confirmed,  if  a  proper  i,erson,  or  rejected  if 
unfit  for  the  office.     The  bishop's  approbation  was  neces- 
sary to  entitle  the  candidate  to  receive  the  revenues  of  the 
parish.         ^ 

As  the  priest  must  serve  the  altar,  so  too  he  must  live 


Jay  tlifr^tiar,  afttd  be  irpovidcd  with  the 


necessary' means  of 


„,'»i 


,1,1' 


144 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CIIUKCH. 


subsistence.  Tlie  primitive  Christians  attended  to  this 
important  matter  without  any  fixed  law.  As  under  the 
old  dispensation,  the  priests  and  Levites  received  a  tenth 
part  for  their  subsistence,  so  the  early  Christians  took 
pleasure  in  offering  the  best  of  their  substance  to  those 
who  had  care  of  their  souls.  These  offerings  were  n%de 
sometimes  monthly,  sometimes  weekly,  and  again  during 
the  offertory  at  public  service,  when  bread,  wine,  ccErn, 
oil,  and  other  gifts  were  presented  in  the  churches.  At  a 
\eij  early  period  the  aggregate  income  of  a  church  was 
divided  into  four  parts.  Of  these,  one  was  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  bishop,  one  for  the  proper  and  decent  sup- 
port of  the  clevgy  of  the  church,  a  third  ])art  was  employed 
in  repairing  the  ediii(jjp  and  keeping  up  divine  service,  and 
the  fourth  part  was  invariably  given  to  the  poor. 

As  in  the  course  of  centuries,  the  Church  obtained 
many  bequests,  and  even  very  considerable  emoluments 
from  the  emperors  who  embraced  Christianity,  and  as 
different  Church  Councils,  as  that  of  Tours  in  5G0,  and 
that  of  Macon  in  58G,  enforced  the  offering  of  tithes,  the 
system  of  beneficQs  gradually  arose.  Certain  parcels  of 
lapd  were  attached  to  every  ecclesiastical  office,  and  out  of 
tlie  income  yielded,  ^e  clergy  appointed  to  such  office  were 
to  live.  About  the  year  850,  this  system  had  become  uni- 
versal in  the  Church.  At  the  same  time,  the  clergy  were 
required  by  law  not  to  consider  these  revenues  as  exclu- 
sively their  own  property.  They  were  permitted  to  use 
what  was  necessary  for  a  comfortable  sustenance,  and  to 
employ  the  remainder  for  G(^'g  ht«nor  and  glory,  for  the 
advancement  of  religion  and  eiife^cihion,  and  for  the  relief 
of  the  poor. 

In  later  years,  several  of  the  state  governments  have 
appropriated  to  themselves  the  revenues  and  ancient  endow- 
ments of  the  Church,  and  pretended  to  assume  by  law  the 
duty  of  paying  out  of  these  moneys  an  annual  salary  to 
bishops  and  priests.     As  these  salaries  are  the  product  of 


HISTORY   OF   CHURCH  "TEMPORALITIES.         145 

the  ancient  Church  property,  and  as  a  large  part  of  the 
e  clesjastical  wealtli  of  former  times  is  still  in  the  hand 

J^ind  and  nnjust  to  boast  of  the  -alms"  which  these  irov 
ernments  extend  "  in  charity"  to  the  clergy.  ^ 


i'l 


>  •' 


43-  The  History  of  Church  Temporalities. 

Although  the  kingdom  of^iod  is  not  of  this  world  yet 
^t  exists  m  this  world,  and  il  to  a  eert.in  extentSl  pond 
ent  npon  hnman  n.eans  and  earthly  resources  n,Xr  to 

me  ts,  tithes,  bequests,  and  other  donations.     These  are 
to  be  considered  as  inviolable  ecelesiastical  propertv  and 

Chuiel.      On  the  otlier  hand,  several  fanatical  persons 

goods  blTrT  ''?'""''  "''"  ™"'^™"^'i  "-  ''°W"'go 
goods  by  the  Church  ,is  unchristian.     Tliey  inveighed  bit 

vl  used  o?t;  '"'"'":'  '°  .''"'*''^'  """  '^^^  ">»»ey« 
hoaut,fy„,g  „,,„,„„  ,^„,.^j^;p^  y^^  education  of  the  youn! 
m  conven  s  .and  parish  schools,  and  for  the  support  of   hf 

"s^flrVf're'nr''?"'^!"'"^''  *°  *"»  free'Ltion  »! 
usetulness  of  tiie  Church  in  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ      n 

::::"';,"""  T'  "■^'■-"^  ^"'  '^"^ "-  >-»  »'„." 

ndZtfi.  1     '''''■''  """  *'^°  '^a  "'<'  ■"o^'  abstemious 
.>nd  mortified  lives,  were  those  who  fought  most  stren! 

tl,.       1    ®.    ^     countless    instances  that  have   occurred 


ivreiraes  vere  applfeT^y  tE^ 


:-f' 


■\i 


i  ' 

!     ■ 


146 


CHKIST   IN   HIS   CJIURCH. 


bishops  to  the  purposes  intended,  and  also  the  disinter- 
estedness of  the  prelates,  may  be  mentioned  the  case  of 
Bishop  Francis  Stephen,  of  Pamiers.  This  saintly  pre- 
late was  condemned  by  Louis  XIV.,  of  France,  in  1G78, 
to  lose  the  temporalities  of  his  diocese,  because  he  was 
bold  enough  to  rebuke  the  unjust  and  despotic  actions  of 
that  king  in  his  dealings  with  the  Church.  The  bishop, 
on  hearifl^  his  sentence,  sent  to  the  king  a  letter,  in  which 
he  wrote:  "I  cannot  be  denied  permission  to  ask  your 
royal  majesty  a  just  request.  If  I  have  been  guilty  of  any 
wrong,  and  have  been  so  adjudged,  please  to  take  from 
me  oijly  that  portion  of  my  episcopal .  revenues  which  I 
have  hitherto  employed  for  my  own  personal  maintenance. 
I  am  not  ashamed  to  ajjpcal  to  the  generosity  and  charity 
of  my  flock,  who  will  not  see  me  in  want  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  without  offering  ^abundant  alms.  But  do 
pot  cfdmpcl  others,  who  are  innocent  of  any  wrong-doing, 
to  share  my  disgrace  andf  punishment.  For  I  must  in- 
form your  majesty  that  tlt'osc  incomes,  just  taken  away 
from  me  by  judicial4)5pcerdings,  were  to  be  devoted  to 
the  support  of  t^v^fs^iiii'^rics  iu  which  young  ecclesias- 
tics are  being  trjt'ued  for  the  direction  and  instruction  of 
the  souls  of  yo\m  subjects;  to  the  renovation  of  the  Cathe- 
dral, alntost  r^Fned  by  the  excesses  of  the  heretics;  to  the 
restoration  ^iid  beautifying  of  other  churches  in  my  dio- 
cese; to  the  support  of  many  poor  persons,  who  if  deprived 
of  this  sitp]H)rt  will  be  reduced  to  extreme  8utTering,^-^tnd 
finally,  to  the  licpiidation  of  the  debts  that  I  hjue  con- 
tracted for  all  the  abo/e  purposes.  In  regard  to  my  own 
person,  and  my  private  necessities,  I  shall  bear  with  full- 
est resignation  whatever  divine  Providence  may  be  i)leased 
to  inflict  upon  mo." 


TEMPORAL   POWER   OF  TJIE   POPES. 


147 


44.  The  Temporal  Power  of  the   Popes.    Rome 
and  the  States  of  the  Church. 

,  "  And  the  angel  said:  O  Lord  of  Hosts,  how  long  wilt  thou  not 

•^  have  mercy  on  Jerusalem  and  on  the  cities  of  Juda,  with  which 

thou  hast  been  angry?    This  is  now  the  seventieth  year.     And-  the 
Lord  answered  the  angel  comfortable  words. "— Zachakias  i.*l2. 

The  Church' of  Rome,  being  the  centre  of  Christianity, 
surpassed  at  a  very  early  period  all  other  churches  in  the 
amount  of  her  n;oney,  and  in  the  value  of  gold  and  silver 
vessels,  and  of  houses  and  lands.     The  aggregate  of  this 
Wilth  was  called  the  Patrimony  of  St.  Peter.     Nowh'ere 
>n   earth  could  there  bo  found  a  more  honestly-earned 
property,  or  more  honorable  and  lawful  possession.    Many 
of  the  descendants  of  ancient  and  renowned  Roman  fami- 
lies,  heroic   and    senatorial    families,   became    Catholics 
during  the  first  tjiree  hundre.l  years  of  Christianity,  and 
from  time  to  time  they  consecrated  the  whole  or  a  part  of 
their  immense  fortunes  to  the  service  of  Jesus  Christ   in 
the  person  of  his  Vicars  on  earth,  the  Poi,es.     Cons^antine 
tke  CJreatand  his  successors,  as  representatives  Jf  tl^iw 
of  the  land,  subsequently  confirmed  and  augmented  the 
.  endowments.     Hence  the  Popes   of   the  fifth  and  'sixth 
centur.es,  even  l)efd>e  they  became  temporal  rulers,  were 
the  largest  teclniical  real-estate  holders  in  Europe:  all  of 
course  m  trust  for  the  benefit  of  the  Church.     The  mag- 
nitude of  these  possessions;  the  judicious  management  of 
t.he  same;  the  truly  Christian  fidelity  with  which  the  rev- 
enues were   applied   to  promote  the  l»onor  of  (lod,  the 
advancement  of  the  Church,  and  the  welfano  of  the  peo- 
ple;   more   especially  the    poor  widows   a.ul   orphans;    all 
tended  to   so  -augment   the    power    and    influence,  and 
heighten  the  character  of  (he  l>opes  in  the  estimation  of 
the   people,    that   the  Chief  Pastors  enjoyed,  even  then 


1: 


V 


'■'if: 


!l 


.-1  JJ.  iiiHlil 


148 


CHRIST  IX  HIS  ciiuucir. 


rule 


rs. 


Let  iiiiy  one  !ic(iuiiin(('(l  with  the  history  of  gov 


enuuonts  oxamiiio  the  (itle-deods  of  il 


le  s( 


ivenil 


reitiiiiiiLf 


dyiuksties  in  Kurope  iiiul  Anieriea,  whellier  nionjircliiciil  or 


republican,  iiiul  lie  will  find  that  sov^ 


in  many,  if  not  most  Inst 


'reignty  was  {u.'([uire(l 


!U 


ices,  by  the    founder  of  each 


royal  house  "or  commonwealth,  through  the  means  of  false- 
hood, perjury,  usurpation,  oj)pression,  bloodshed,  and 
oftentimes  by  the  violent  casting  aside  of  those  who  hud  a 
better  claim  to  the  scei)tre,  the  crown,  or  chair  of  supremo 


HU 


Ihority.      'I'here   are   dark    blotches  on  the  })archment 


which  records  thei 


milted  to  chemical  tests  1 


r  accpiisition  of  authoritv,  and  if  sub- 


bo  found  that  th 


y  experts  in  chemistrv,  it  would 


of  these  dvuasties.  howev 


ese  are  s])ots  of  human  blood.      Not 


on(^ 


er,  m 


us   tlmt  of  the  ro])es.     Their  lit l(>,  wl 
said  of  it,  is  as  j)nr(>  ami  stainic 


H's  so  far  back  into  anti(piity 


borders  Ihoir  rt)bes  of  oil 


latmer  else  may  bo 
ss  as  the  ermine  which 


\Vi> 


The  Em]H>ror  Constant im\  after   1 


i^ 


adversaries   in  battl 

stantinople  far  awav  in  th(>  Ivisj, 


seat  of  empire,  which  had  hitherto  1 


laving  overeonu)  his 

i\  rcsoIv(>d   to   build   the  city  of  Con- 

aiul   establish  Ihere  the 


•ceil  at   Iu»me 


iifusion   ill   tl 


that  period  there  was  no  little  co 
administering  temporal  aiithorily  within   tl 
have  since  been  called   the  Tat 


u^  mo( 


h  rom 
le  of 


le  states  that 


rimonv  (tf  Si.  I'cicr.     Tl 


u> 


interval   was   nearly  live   hundred 


years. 


1' 


the  W 


or  some   tiim^ 


Oman  emju'rors   kept  their  r«\|)rcsentatives  in   Italy 


but  those  almost  without  exception  proved   inell 


icient  and 


insincere.    "They  could    not    jtrotetM    the    peopU-  (.f   Iijily 


against    the  successiye   incursi 


out<   of    the  Ileiules,  (Jot  I 


IS, 


and  Lombards,  The  j)eo|)le  bccam(>  a  defenceless  prey  to 
the  avarice  and  cruelty  of  these  barbarous  marauders. 
Again  and  again  the  Topes,  as  chief  past(ws  of  these  suf- 
fering peoi)le,  appealed  to  Iho  emperor  in  Constaiitin()j)le, 
beseeching   hini  to  send  troops  for^  the  protection  of  the 

s  W(>re  in  vain,  their  ajtpeals 
)ir(>  was 


Italian  Stjitgs.      Hut  th(>ir  effort 

diyroganfod;  for  the  eastern   j)orlion  of  the  Eni) 


K 


TEMPORAL   POWKkOf   TllK    I'UJ'KS.  149 

it^olf  ilircitencl  fr.,tn  .imilur  houhts.  ft  was  even  diH- 
oovenMi  tlmt  the  en.|.(.ror  ha.l  n.ule  Kecrot  treaties  will, 
the  nianuulers,  to  the  ellVrt  tliat  if  they  sj.are.I  the  eastern 
I"T  H.M,  the.r  ineursio.Ks  inl„  Knly  would  not  he  interfeVed 
wilh  hy  (he  j.reseiH-e  of  the  i.np.-riai  Iroopn.  In  the 
iHeanl.n,e,  the  j.eoplo  of  (V.ntral  Jtaly  4 hrew  themselves 
into  the  unn.  of  the  ,Soverei;^n  l>ontiir,s  for  the  protection 
which  they  c(M,ld  not  longer  expect  from  any  other  .ourco. 
i  he  1  opes  Jeft  nothing  undone   to  correspond  with  their 


m 


Pope  I.OO  tlio  (Jn)at  aii<l  Attlla. 


■^r^'^ 


Wishes;  ,n   famuH*,  inpestihMUT.  ami.l   the  desolations  of 

;^n-nage.(h,y   nvre.  if  not  I  h.  pn-t.-.tors  of  ( hr  prop],,  at 

'•■•'^^Ml,r,rr;,il,.,-sund(h..MTomf,.r(ers.      In  his  soiintude 

';'■   '"^    "-•'^•^.  M.eChu.f   Pastor  at  Uon.e   even  riskrd   his 

''^''   '"  ''"'^'"•"1    "'<'"'•      llis  lu-art    hl.d  with   thrirs   in   the 

'■"■"•'"'|'l''(i<-.  <.f  <hr  n.n.s  Mirronnding  tliem  on  all  Mdes 

As  oarly  as  41!),  wh.>n  Attila,  king  of  the  (ioths.  after 
laying  waste  u  gr.-at  part  of  Italy,  was  ..I......  |..  i^ti,,,.],  „„d 

ctosfroy  rr.0  cTty  <,f  Ho„u.,  JN.po  Leo  the  (Jrcat  wont  forth    ' 


% 


• 


I; 


if 


ii 


!i 


> 


CHIIIST   IN    HIS    CIIURCIL 

the  temporal  Representative  of  the  people,  as  well  as  the 
Spiritual  aiid  temporal  Representative  of  Christ,  to  meet 
and  check  the  ruthless  invader.  By  the  impressive  dignity 
of  his  presence,  but  more*  especially  by  the  wisdom  and 
miraculous  power  of  his  words,  the  Pope  touched  the  heart 
of  Attila,  who  at  once  retraced  his  steps  and  left  Itnly. 
An  old  tradition  has  it,  that  during  the  Pope's  address  to 
the  devastating  commander,  the  hitter  saw  in  the  air  the 
figures  of  the  twin  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  both  witli 
(drawn  swords,  and  threatening  instant  destruction  of  him- 
self and.army,  should  he  venture  to  enter  the  Eternal  City. 
Again,  a  few  years  later,  Genseric,  the  ruthless. king  of  the 
terrible  Vandals,  was  advancing  towards  Rome,  spreading 
death  and  desolation  on  all  sides.  The  same  Poj)e,"  Leo 
the  Great;  went  out  unprotqcted  to  meet  the  barbarian,  a,nd 
although  not  succeeding  in  pi-eVenting  the  capture  of  the 
city,  he  dissuaded  the  euemy  from  destroying  it,  and  from^ 
murdeiTiig  its  inhabitants.  Like«Poi)e  Leo,  all  the  subse- 
([uent  ])ontiffs  coiitinued  to  shield  and  assist  the  i)eople  of 
Italy.  They  emi)loyed  their  incomes  in  rebuilding  the 
defencies  of  the  Capital,  in  raising  the  tem[)les  of  (Jod, 
and  the  homes  of  man  from  the  ruin  caused  by  time  and 
war.  They  .sent  into  the  ])lundered  districts  whole  fleets 
laden  with  grain,  and  lent  llicir  aid,  both  byword  and 
work,  whore  no  other  aid  or  encouragement  could  be  found. 
Thus  the  Popes  hccaniG  (lefdrfo,  if  not  dc  jure.,  temporal 
sovereigns  of  that  portion  of  Italy  which  bad  been  aban- 
doruHl  by  the  East ern  emperor,  ami  which,  until  the  recent 
robberies  of  the. bite  Victor  Lmmanuel,  constituted  the 
States  of  the  Church.  During  the  eighth  century,  a  suc- 
cession of  conflicts  arose  between  the  Lombards  on  one 
side,  and  the  few  feeble  forces  of  the  Lm))ire,jitill  in  Italy 
on  the  other.  The  Poffes  interfered  in  behalf  of  peace 
and  humanity.  'I'he  Lomlnirds  were  victorious,  ami  cap- 
tured numy  towns,  among  them  h'avenmi,  the  seat  of  tbe 
— ht!?t"^e«ttgtr  vf^TOJpefiff^  jnrwt*f . — fe+ng  Ltttt|>mnti,  ttt  't+% 


!:i  if 


TEMPORAL   POWEK  O^  THE   POPES.  ^  161 


g^ve  to  PoJ)e  Zachary  the  city  and  province  of  Sutri,  as' 
"being  the  lawful  property  of  St.  <Peter:'    This  was  the 
first  formal  bestowal  oif  a  city  to  the  Church,  and  really 
the  nucleus  of  the  " Temporal  Power." 

It  was  not  long,  however,  till  the  Lombards  renewed 
hostilities  against  Rome  and  Lower  Italy.     Pope  Stephen 
III.  appealed  earnestly  once,  more  to  the  emperor  in  Con- 
stantinople,  beseeching  him  to  protect  his  subjects'  lives 
aiid  property.     In  vain.     The  Eastern  :^.mpire  now  com- 
pletely abandoned  the  ancient  capital  of  the  world,' and 
thu& forfeited  all  claim  to  the  allegiance  of  its  inhabitants. 
A  visit,  made  in  person  by  the  Pope  to" the  Lombard  king 
Astolphus,  was  ccpially  barren   of  any  good  r^lts.     In 
thi«  emergency,  Pope  Stephen;,  in  Jris  solicitude  for  the 
feafety  of  his  flocks,  resolved  to  go.liimself  to  Pepin,  king 
of  Franpe.     Tlie  visit  took  phfce  in  November  o'f  the  mem- 
orable year  753.     At  the  convent  of  St.  Maurice,  in  Switz-. 
erland,  the  Pop(^.was  mot  by  the  FVench  ambassadors,  who, 
with  all  possible  respect,  acaompunjed   the  itpud  of  the 
.  Christian  Church  to  the  royHl])alc1ce  ()f'4P«)n^Ignon,  north 
of  Paris;     Pej)in  readily  uccetlea  to  the  Pontiff's  request, 
namely,- to  deliver  the  Ronians  froni  the  attacks  of  Astol- 
phus.    So  well  were   the   iomi)()ral   I'ights.  of   the   Pope 
recognized,  that  Pepin  first  sent  ambassladt)rs  to  Astolphus, 
king  of  the  LbmburdH,  entroatiijg  liim  to  ffiak^  restitution 
of  the  territory  ])elo'nging  to  the  holy  Church  of  God. 
The  Pope  also  wrote  to  liim  in  the  same  spirit.     Deaf  to 
these  entreaties,  lie  still  persevorM  in  his.cncroac'hmenls 
upon  the  Papal  tertitory.     I»ei)in  came  at  tl>e  Tiead  of  his 
iirmy,  (^lastised  the  barbarian,  compeJle<lXiin,  to  restore 
the  territory  whicli  he  h^ft  usu^wod;  and  bound  him  by 
treaty  not  to  invade  it  agaiii.     ^ThJs  treaty,  however,  was 
not  observed,  and  it  soon  became  Necessary  for  Pepin's  son 
Charlemagne  to  make  war  again  on  the  Lombards,  and 
wrestfroni  them,  once  for  all,  the  property  of  the  Church, 
-»r}tich  Iro  gjfv^  l^rffieT^poriiFlTie  patfimony  of  tlie  h'oTy  " 


I'f^- 


152 


'CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


Apostles'  ana  ot  the  Romaii-  Ohurch.  He  also  confirmed 
the"  Pontiff  in  .the  temporal  sovereignty,  wliich  he  had 
exercised  already  for  maiiy  years.  The  ejnperor  Coprony- 
mu's  sent,  from  Constantinople,  ambassadors  to  the  French 
conqueror,  claiming   the  territory  from  which  the  Lom- 

•  bards  hud  been  driven;  but,  as  may  be  supposed,  the 
petition  was  refused  with  contempt  and  disdain.  The 
Eastern  emperor'had  allowed  the  barbarian^to  invade  the 
/Spates  of  the  Church,  which  he  should  have  protected, 
and  then  when  these'  barbyrii^ns  had  been  expelled  by 
French  valor  and  chivalry,  under  the  command  of  their 
sovereign,  it  was  too  late  for  Constantinople  to  make  the 
petition.     Pepin  and  Charlemagne  were  at  liberty  to  dis- 

'  pose  of  the  conquered  territory  as  they  thought  proper, 
and  they  Conferred  it  upon  the,  See  of  St.  Peter. 

It  is  true  that  amid  the  incessant  storms  of  persecution 
"that  hlive  raged  about  land  against  the  Bark  of  Peter, 
these  temporalities  have  frequently  been  unjustly  torn 
from  the  faithful  und  })rotecting  hands-  of  the  Head  of 
the  Church.  Often,  too,  has  he  himself  been  driven  into 
exile,  and  sometimes  lield  as  ii  prisoner.  Yet  always,  in 
his  own  good  time,  the  Providence  of  God  has  conducted 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  in  triumj)h  over  his  enemies,  back 
to  the  Eternal  City,  and  i)laced  him  again  custodian  of 
t^ho^e  possessions  which  have  been  consecrated  to  the 
maiiVtenance,  dignity,  and  independence  of  the  Ciiurch. 

To-day,  all  Christendom  is  awaiting  with  patient  con- 
fidence the  time  wlieti  that  .same  God  will  restore  to  his 
venerable  and  Saintly  Representative,  Leo  the  Thirteenth, 
those  temporal  possessions  whicli  a  sacrilegious  and  ava- 
ricious government  wrested  from  his  predecessor,  amid 
bloodshed  and  carnage,  in  September,   1870.*     Although 

*  At  the  "  Congress  of  Paris,"  during  l]u^  yeiir^^856,  the  Itaiiiui 
Minister  of  State,  the  infamous  Cavour,  aided  and  abetted  by  Eng- 
lisli  perfidy,  declared  against  tiu;  temporal  power  of  the  Pope.  His 
•objectlona  were  triumphautly  refuted  by  Count  liayneval,  Frnneli 


TEMPORAL   POWER  OF  THE   POPES.  163 

during  the  first  three  centuries  of  Christianity,  when  the 
Church  was  bathed  in  the  blood  of  her  cliildren,  the  Sov- 
ereign Pontiif  wa3  not  a  Temporal  Kuler,  and  although 
the  Temporal  Power  may  not  be  absolutely  necessary  to 
the  Church,  yet  the  Catiiolics  of  all  tongues  and  climes 
have  spoken  out  on  the  subject  with  marvellous  unanim- 
ity: declaring  it  to  bo  their  irrevocable  desire  that  the 
lawful  bisho])  of  Home  shall  be  the  sole  guardian  of  the 
accumulated  offerings  of  their  generous  and  self-sacrificing 
forefathers  in  the  faith.  All  Catholics  believe  that  the 
iemporal  Power  is  necessai-y  in  order  to  insure  the  inde- 
pendence of  their  Chie4Pastor,  and  to  secure  the  untram- 
melled liberty  of  the  Church.  They  demand  and  will 
accept'  nothing  less  than  the  recognition  by  all  men  of 
the  ancient  rights  and  privileges  of  the  Holy  See. 

ambassador  to  Rome.  After  the  defeat  of  Austria  at  Magenta,  by 
Napo  con  III.,  .n  1859,  tl.e  Romagna  and  the  Legations  wert  Mrclted 
from-the  governnu-nb  of  Pius  IX.  Again,  after  the  engagement  at 
Ca  telfidardo.  ,n  October,  I860,  the  Marches  and  Umbria  were 
stolen.  Ou  the  M  of  Noven.bor,  1SG7,  .he  Papal  troops,  with  the 
a.d  of  the  French  soldiers,  rc.pelled  successfully  an  assault  made  by 
U.C  GHnlmld.ans  at  Mentana.    But,  as  soon  as  Home  was  vacated  by 

c.tj,  and  finally  wrested  Iron,  the  Church  the  last  of  her  posses- 


6^ 


CHAPTER  VI 


THE  HISTORY  OFi^ELIGIOUS  ORDERS. 
CHRIST  LIVES  IN"  HIS  CHURCH  AS 
,    THE  HOLY  ONE. 


/ 


Holiness  in  the  Catholic  Church:' 


"  Christ  also  loved  the  Church  and  delivered  himself  up  for  it, 
that  Jie  might  sanctify  it,  a  glorious  Church,- not  having  spot  or 
wrinkle,  holy  and  without  blemish."— Epiiesians  v.  25  ci  al. 

WELL  and  truly  docs  St:  Luke  describe  the  happy 
effect  of  close  im'um  with  Christ,  when  he  tells  us,  in 
"The  Acts  of  the  Apostles,"  "The  multitude  of  believers 
had  but  one  heart  and  one  soul."  Our  Blessed  Lord  and 
Savfour  has  himself  explained  to  us,  by  means  of  a  beauti- 
ful parable,  his  very  close  union  with  the  living  members 
of  his  Church,  and  his  undying,  life  in  that  ChurA.  He 
tells  us,  "I  am  the  vine,  you  are  the  branches."  The 
branch  shoots  forth  from  the  main  trunk,  and  must  be 
connected  with  it  in  order  to  preserve  its  own  life.  For 
only  one  life  exists  in  both.  All  those  saps  or  vital  forces 
circulating  in  the  branch  and  producing  leaves,  blossoms, 
and  fruit,  flow  from  the  vine  into  every  healthy  limb. 
Christ  is  the  true  vine,  and  in  him  dvvelleth,  in  the 
greatest  fullness  and  completeness,  all  holiness  of  life;  for 
the  eternal  Father  hath  declared r  "This  is  my  beloved 
Son  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  Now,  as  the  vital  power 
of  the  main  vine-tree  circulates  through  the  branch,  so\ 
does  holiness  of  life  flow  from  Clirist  into  each  individual 


HOLINESS   IN   THE   CATHOLIC   CHURCH.         165 

believer  in  particular,  and   into  the  Church  of  God  in 
general. 

As  Christ,  who  is  holiness  itself  and  the  source  of  all 
sanctity,  lives  in  his  Church,  that  Church  must  necessarily 
be  holy,  and  holy  men  must  likewise  necessarily  exist 
within   her  pale  at  all   times.     Christ,  the  all-holy  one, 


A  Monk  at  Prayer. 

manifests  himself  in  their  virtuous  lives.  They  are  the 
certain,  living  witnesses  of  the  true  and  real  existence  and 
life  of  Christ  in  his  Church;  for  each  one  of  them  practi- 
cally says,  by  the  holinoss  of  his  life:  "I  live,  Yiow  not  I; 
but  Christ  liveth  in  me. '^  Yes,  Christ  lives  in  his  saints.' 
^rst1)yhfs  examp):  for  the  faithfulC 


m^^ 


• 


/ 


166 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


ishes  in  his  heart  the  image  of  the  lowly,  obedient,  chaste, 
and  loving  Saviour,  feels  himself  inspired  and  drawn  to 
become  liko  unto  him.  Christ  lives  in  his  saints  by  virtue 
of  his  promises;  for  the  superabundant  joy  of  heaven  in 
the  future  sweetens  the  bitter  struggles  of  the  present  life- 
and  he  lives,  thirdly,  by  virtue  of  his  mysterious  grace' 
which  flows  through  the  faithful  soul  with  supernatural 
life-power,  and  helps  it  to  overcome  the  flesh,  the  world, 
and  even  hell  itself. 

But  the  outgrowth  of  holiness  from  Christ,  the  all-holy 
One,  was  not  limited  merely  to  the  riiyriads  of  holy  souls 
who  have  adorned  the  Church  in  all  ages,  and  who  will 
adorn  her  till  the  end  of  time.  It  animated  and  vivified, 
moreover,  the  very  institutions  in  which  and  through 
which  tliese  souls  obtained  the  means  of  holiness;  such  as 
holy  practices,  popular  pious  customs,  devout  associations 
and  confraternities,  tkc,  two-edged  sword  of  the  eloquent 
preacher  and  expounder  of  Scripture,  missions,  and  other 
devotions.  For,  although  all  these  means  of  holiness  may 
come  through  the  agency  of  men,  yet  it  cannot  be  denied 
but  that  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ  is  acting,  in  these  men 
.and  their  works,  to  the  sanctification  of  his  elect. 


46.  History  of  Monastic  Life  in  General. 

"Jesus  saith  to  him:  If  thou  wilt  be  perfect,  go  sell  wliat  thou 
hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  tliou  shalt  luive  treasure  in  heaven- 
and  come  follow  me."— Matthew  xix.  21. 

Among  all  these  means  of  lioliness,  outside  of  grace 
and  the  sacraments,  the  monastic  life  is  the  most  magnifi- 
cent; resembling  a  glorious  old  tree  whose  widespreading 
branches  overshadow  the  earth.  This  tree  has  its  triple- 
root  in  Jesus  Christ,  namely,  in  his  voluntary  poverty, 
holy  obedience,  and  virgin  chastity,  In  the  splendor  of 
this  three-fold  beauty,  Christ  wishes  to  live  here  below 


mms^^m 


HISTORY   OF   MONASTIC    LIFE   IN   GENERAL.      157 

through  all  ages,  and  hence  he  has  ever  drawn  to  himself 
by  mysterious  bonds  magnanimous  and  noble  souls,  and 
inspired  them  with  pious  and  steadfast  resolution,  to  live 
like  Christ  m  voluntary  poverty,  unlimited  obedience,  and 
virginal  purity. 

And  what  do  these  souls  seek,  who  come  in  such  vast 
crowds,  decked  with  the  harsh  thorny  crown  of  voluntary 
poverty,  laden  with  the  chains  of  holy  obedience,  and  bet^r- 
ing  m  their  hands  the  lily  of  chastity  ?    They  wish  to  be 
released,  and  to  remain  forever  free  from  the  poor,  pass- 
ing world;  from  the  desire  of  wealth,  and  from  sensuality 
pride,  and  self-will.     They  wish  to  be  so  free  from  the 
world,  and  to  belong  so  exclusively  to  Christ,  that  they 
may  m  truth  cry  out  with  liini,  "Our  kingdom  is  not  of 
this  world."     But  althougli  Jesus  Christ  was  not  of  this 
world,  yet  he  was  altogether  for  this  world,  and  gave  him- 
self up  for  the  life  of  the  world.     So,  too,  these  hol^ouls 
though  not  of  this  world,  yet  wish  to  sacrifice  thenSelves 
entirely  for  the  world,  partly  by  effecting  in  the  quiet 
cloister  life,  and  by  prayer,  meditation,  and  rigorous  mor- 
tification, a  never-ending  sacrifice  of  atonement  and  pro- 
pitiation; rendering  to  divine  majesty  that  adoration  and 
thanksgiving  which  the  world  owes,  but  which  it  com- 
monly neglects  to  pay.     Tliese  constitute  the  contemi>kf- 
tive  orders.  ^ 

Others  sacrifice  themselves  for  tlie  world,  by  benefiting 
it  through  much  manual  labor,  by  imparting  knowledge  to 
tbe  Ignorant,  and  by  rendering  assistance  to  the  sick^and 
afflicted.     These  are  the  active  orders. 

The  monastic  life  is  as  old  as  the  Church  itself,  and 
will  endure,  as  the  fairest  flower  of  Christian  life,  as  long 
H.S  the  Church  shall  liVe.  Originally,  those  chosen  to  serve 
(.od  ]n  religion  remained  in  their  families  and  parishes, 
and  there  practised  faithfully  the  works  of  Christian  per- 
fection.   During  the  persecution  under  the  em})eror  Decius 


r 


158 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CIIUECH. 


into  the  deserts,  where  they  led  the  lives  of  hermits.  The 
very  deserts,  especially  in  Egypt,  blossomed  with  the  holy 
lives  of  countless  servants  of  God.  When  some  pious 
and  truly  spiritual  man  of  extraordinary  gifts  would  retire 
into  the  solitude,  multitudes  would  gather  around  him  and 

._„.__- ._  ., linger  in  his  neighborhood, 

in  order  to  be  guided  by  his 
holiness,  wisdom,  and  ex- 
perience,  on    the    way   of 
Christian  perfection.  Thus, 
hundreds  of  cells  would  rise 
around  his  hermitage,  and 
here    his    disciples    woul(^ 
dwell  and  lead  lives  in  con- 
formity with  his  directions. 
The  first  of  these  "Fath- 
ers of  the  Desert "  mention- 
ed in  history  was  St.  An- 
tony, born  in  251,  and  who 
was  the  founder  of  solitary 
monastic   life.      The    first 
Father^ -1%;^  withdrew  the 
monks  fr^^Mieir  separate 
cells   and^ssel^ed  them 
into  one  monastery  was  St.  Paehomius,   aboufi|he  year 
325.     In  a  similar  manner  the  sister  of  St.  Antony  estab- 
lished a  convent  for  the  virgins.     Monastic  life,  founded 
as  it  was  upon  the  three  vows  of  poverty,  chastity,  a'nd 
.^   obedience,  gi-ew  and  flourished  in    the  East,  under  the 
^"  guidance  of  such  great  and  holy  men  as  Sj;.  Basil  of  Ca?sa- 
N:^^  and  others,  who  cherished  and  cultivated  this  fair 
young  plant,  with  extreme  tenderness  and  skill. 

In  the  West,  monasticism  honors  as  its  father  and  patri- 
arch the  great  St.  Benedict.  Here  too  the  religious  life 
grew  and  developed  in  a  variety  of  forms,  spreading  over 


St.  Antony. 


HISTORY   OF   MONASTIC   LIFE   IN   GENERAL.      159 

all  the  earth,  so  that  to-day,  in  spite  of  persecution  and 
confiscation,  countless  monasteries  and  convents  exist  in 
every  quarter  of  the  globe,  with  more  than  two  hundred 
thousand  religious  of  both  sexes. 

Among  the  immerous  orders  instituted  in  the  West,  and 
which,  with  the  exception  of  the  spiritual  knights,  still 


St.  Dominick.      St.  FfancU.  ,   St.  Alphonsus.      St.  Benedict.         St.  IgnaUtu. 

The  Foundei-s  of  the  FivaKlftlious  Orders. 


live  and  persevere  in  the  active  pursuit  of  their  respective 
vocations,  the  Benedictines,  Augustinians,  Franciscans, 
Dominicans,  Jesuits,  Redemptorists,  and  othey  male  and 
female  orders  established  for  education,  for  the  care  of  the 
poor,  sick,  and  oi-phans,  deserve  our  attention. 


\  . 


« 


I 


B. 


3  ;      ■( 
>       i 


-^ 


160 


OJIKIST    IN    HIS    (MUJROH. 


47-  History  of  the  Benedictines. 

,*,   '      "TI,o  manifohl  wisdom  .-uul  ^Inry  of  God  n,;iy  hv  nimlc  known 
to  all  111,,  principalities  uiid  powers  tlirou-j,  the  Cimreli  "-Ei'Hjisi 
ANs  iii.  10.  '  '  ^^^ 

St.  Jk'iioclictof  Xui-siu  wiis  tlu>  foim,l,M-  of  the  Bene- 
dic(i..*o  order,  and  (Ik,  paLriurrh  of  tl.o  ni.Miks  of  tlu.  West. 
Born  m  the  your  480,  ho  attended  Ihe  j)uhlic  sehools  in 
Koine,  and  in  eiwly  life  conceived  a  horror  for  the-.world 
and  Its  excesavs.     lie  tiiereforo  relire'd  into  (lie  solitude  of 


C^ 


St,  .neru-<liot  D.'Ktmys  llw,  I,l„l8„„  M.into  OiHino. 


Nh1>imco.  uherelirled  ll...  Iif.-nf  ;,  l„,nni(.  The  fati.e  of 
his  sanrhty  sprea.t  far  and  u-,dr,  so  thatNhe  monks  of 
\  u^varo  ehose  hnn  for  (heir  al.l.ot.  lint  his  ri-orous  dis- 
••■i'lme  soon  displeased  a  sn.all  V..rl  ion  of  these  monks,  and 
NiHfcroneoctodaplan  to  poison   him.      Hut   Henedic(    ue 


'■onlin-  (<.  eus(om.  having,  made  the  siLMi  of  (he  Lross  over 
<lH«  pro(rU«d  wino  l.(>for(>  (as(i,,jr.  H,,  ^4sel  hurst  in  pieces 
Ound  the  M'ktiin.en  ucknowh.j.cd  I  luu;- ^niiltv  design  and 


1 

m 


■<59» 


IILSTOIIV    OF   'I'lfK    HIONEDKJTINES. 


161 


repented.  The  saint  forguve  them,  but  returned  to  fSubi- 
aco,  \vh(^-e  lie  .soon  gatiiered  about  hifn  a  multitude  of  dis- 
ciples. From  this  ])la*;e  he  went  to'  Monte  Casiiiu^  ^^%^ 
he  founded  the  niother-Iiouse'  of  liis  order,  and  (compiled 
that  renowned  rule  of  monastic  lifo  in  which  Christian 
rigor  is  mingled  with  i)atermd  miULwess,  zeal  for  the  glory 
of  (Jod  eoml)ined  with  tender  soliMude  for  the  welfare' of 
our  neighbor,  ami  profound  wisdom  oi'  life  tempered  witii 
child-like  Himi)licity.  When  ihi.s  holy  man  of  Cod  felt 
his  end  approaching,  he  asjjed  to  be  carried  into  the  church 


Monks  at  Work. 


for  the  reception  of  the  last  sacraments,  took  an  affect ing 
t'iirew(-ll  of  liis  disciples,  prayed  wifh  clasped  hands,  i'liiij 
di('<l  whih'  in  a  sttwuling  position,  leaning  oli  jhe  arm  of  a 
iH<)nl<.  on  Ihe'-ilstof  March,  r>r,l  '    ,■  ' 

Hut  his  work,  the  glorious  Honed ictino  order,  contin- 
luwl  1o  live  thnuigh  all  successive  «^gea.  Its  liumbl(jmid 
mdefatigalde  monks  became,  in  the  hand  of  (Jod,  the 
clu)sen  instruments  who  rebuilt  Kiiro[)e  upon  the  ruins 
which  the  l}arburous  invaders  from  the  North  had  sj)reud 


!    h 


III 


f'll 


M 


m 


II 


m 


i 


i 


<i    £ 


162 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CIIUKCII. 


»: 


^  around  on  all  sides.     Tliey  effected  this  work  successfully 
by  science,   education,   and   industry.     The   Benedictine 
monk*  had  preserved  in  his  cell  the  treasures  of  pagan  wis- 
dom and  the  sacrej^-^icarning  of  Christian  antiquity.     It 
was  to  the  Benedictine  monk  that  the  citizen,  the  knight, 
and  the  prince  intrusted  their  sons  fur  education  of  mind 
and  heart.     It  was  Benedictine  monks  who  cleared  the^ 
primeval  forests  of  Europe,  dug  canals,  laid  out  roads, 
built    bridges,    and    transformed    barren    solitudes    into 
blooming  gardens.     Their  monasteries  became  the  begin- 
nings of  flourishing  settlements,^' the  nucleus  of  i)rosperous 
and  wealthy* cities  ;    so   that  ^tliey  contradicted  the  oft- 
repeated  assertion,  that  religion  and  piety  are  useless  and 
of  no  avail, -even  to  the  earthly  wdlfare  ofnations.    Hence 
these  monks  commanded  the  respect  of  the  people,  who 
loved  them  as  fathers,  while  kings  and  i)rinces  honored 
them    for    their  •j)nulcnt-  counsels   and   great   learning. 
Owing  to  their  own  industry  and  the  liberality  of  a  grate- 
ful people,  their  possessions  grew  to  vast  jjroportions  and 
became  of  enormous  value.     This  order  has  had  thirty- 
seven  thousand  m(;nasteries  or  institulions,  out  of  which 
have  come  forth,  during  the  course  of  centuries,  twenty-, 
four  IMpes,  and  fifty  thousand  canonized  saints. 


48.   History  of  the  Crusades. 

-#-   . 

'  God  forbid  Mmt  I  should  glory,  siive  in  (|ie  cross  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."— Qalatians  vi.  14. 

In  the  Benedictine  order  oiir  divine  Redeemer  mani- 
fests himself  as  sanctifier  of  the  works  of  peace,  while  in 
the  ^military  orders  wo  recognize  him  as  animating  the 
heroes  of  war  wi^h  supernatural  lif(>,  and  as  conferring 
blessings  even  oh  flu?  sanguiiuiry  profession  of  arms. 
These  remarkable  ocders  owed  their  beginnings  i)artly, 
and    their    cohlirmation.   ix^rnntnent    eHtiiblislitriont.    n^d- 


IIISTOKY    OF   THE   (JliUSADES. 


163 


wide  extensive  growth  wholly  and  specially  to  the  Cru- 
sades. There  were  six  holy  wars  prosecuted  b^-feke  Chris- 
tians from  the  eleventh  to  the  thirteenth  centuries,  and 
directed  against  the  Saracens  m  tke  East.  These  Cru- 
sades were  undertaken,  tir^  with  a  viSvv  of  protecting 
the  devoiHf  Christian  pilgrims  who  were  in  the  habit  of 
frequenting^the  venerable  i)laces  where  our  Saviour  had 
lived,  taught,  sulferwl,  and  triumphed,  from  the  fury 
and  avarice  of  the  heathens  ;  and  secondly,  with  a  view 
to  get  possession  of  the  11%  Land  itself,  and  annex  it  to 
Christendom  ;  and  thirdly,  to  break  down  the  power  of 
the  Cr^c^t,*  and  to  elevate  the  Cross  in  triumph  and 
victory  in  Palestine. 

We  behold  kings,  emperors,  and  brave  heroes  of  every 
degree  taking  the  lead  in  these  Crusades,  two,  of  whojn  in 
particular,  an^Vhose  names  are  inseparably  connected 
with  these  holy  wars,  deserve  our  special  attention.  These 
are  St.  Bernard:  of  Clairvaux,  in  115;},  and  St.  Louis  L\., 
King  of  France. 

The  holy  monk  of  Clairvanx  traversed  Germany  and 

»     ^ 
*  The  Crescent,  or  half-moon,   is  the  standard  of  Mohamme- 
danism. * 

The  first  Crusmle  was  pre^  lied  l)y  Potcr  the  Hermit,  and  was 
led  by  Godfrey '^e  Bouillon,  i'lTlOt)!).  during  tlie  pontiticate  of  Pope 
Urban  II.  .  • 

The  8ec9nd  Cnitnd...  from  a.i^  1117  to  1149,  was  preached  by 
St.  HernaTd,  and  was  i^roseoutcd  chielly  by  the  German  emperor^ 
X^onrad  III.,  and  by  tiic  French  king,  Louis  Vll. 

The  third  (."ru.sade  was  joinXlj^cd  by  the  Emperor  Frederic  Bar- 
barossa.  King  Philip  Augustus  of  France,  and  Richard  the  Lion- 
hearted  of  England,  from  \im  to  1 1»3. 

The  fourth  Crusade  took  place  under  Baldwin  of  Flanders  and 
Boniface  of  Montserrat,  in  1304,  during  the  reign  of  Pope  Inno- 
cent III. 

The  fifth  Crusade,  under  the  Emperor  Frederic  II.,  lasted  from 
1219  to  1229. 

'£j't'8'xth  and  BcrvcnUi  Crusades  were  coiidyir-tpd  bj  8t  Louis  IX.. 
"King  oTFrauce.  reapeclively  in  124Hnnd  1270. 


u 


%        -^ 


•164 


CHKIST   IN    Ills   (JIIURCH. 


'  ! 


:  France,  preaching  the  Crusades.  He  proclaimed,  ^n  glow- 
■•;  ing  and  eloquent  language,  the  duty  of  Christendom  to 
'  save  from  dishonor  by  the  unbelievers,  the  land  of  our 
Hedemption ;  and  to  sacrihce  for  the  attainment  of  this 
grand  design,  power,  money,  blood,  and  life.  The  words 
of  the  man  of  God  penetrated  like  fiery  arrows  the  hearts 
of  alh  -God  wills  it,"  shouted  the  multitude ;' and 
kings  and  noble  Jvhights,  and  the  peopl^-.from'  city  and 
country  pressed    jn    eager  throngs  about    the    inspired 


/ 


^^'  Befjt^d  preacWng  the  Crusades. 

preacher,  to  receive  the  cross  from  his  own  hands,  and 
thus  enroll  fheniselves  in  the  grand  army  of  the  cross  of 
Christ.  But  Tu>ithor  this  first  Crusade,  iu)r  the  several  suc- 
cessive ones,  effected  the  end  ])rop()sed  or  the  wished-for 
result.  Jerusalem,  although  cajitured  by  the  Christians 
in  July,  1009.  and  iransfornu-d  into  a  Ciifholic  kingdom, 
fell  again  into  (h<>  hands  of  the  i+Widels  ;.  and  in  May,  12!)/ 
Ptolemreus,  the  last  stn.nghold  of  the  Christians  in  Pales-'^ 
tine  was  wrested  from  their  hiinds  by  ih^M^ 


IIISTOKY    OF   THE   CKUSADES. 


165 


The  want  of  success  in  these  warg  was  attributed  partly  to 
the  treachery  of  th^  Greeks,  partly  \o  the  disloyalty  of 
some  of  the  Crusaders  themselves,  but  chiefly, to  the  n^any 
abuses  and  scandalous  excesses  wliich  crept  into  the  prose- 
cution even  of  this  sacred  cause.     King  Louis  of  Fraiice 
became  the  innocent  victim  of  atonement  for  the^  Sins  of 
■  the  less  sincere  Crusaders.     This  pious  prince,  though  he 
had  organized  and  sent  out  a  Crusade  in  1248,  undertook 
m  1270,  when  quite  advanced  in. years,  another  expedition 
in  which  he  intended  to  give  battle  to  the  Saracens  in 
.  ^Tunis.     But  a  dreadful  i)estilence  broke  out  in  the  ranks 
•of.  the  army,  aud'  attacked  the.  king  himself  in  its  most 
malignant  fo.-ni.     Amid  this  calamity,  the  king  displayed 
the  magiianimity  of  a  true  Christian  Imj'o,  not  i)ermitting 
one  wWM  of  complaint  to  full  from  his  lips.      "  Grant,  0 
Lord,"    he   i)rayed   constantly,    "that   we   may  learn 'to 
despise,  worldly  success'  and    to   embrace   cheerfully   the 
trials  sent  to  us  by-heaven."     When  the  priest  was  reacji- 
.ing  to.ljim  the   Body  of  the  Lord,  the  face  of  the  dying 
king  ht  up  with   lu.ly  rapture,  and  he  exclaimed:    "I  am 
going  into  thy  house.  0  Lord.  _  In  thy  own  holy  temple  I 
.  sliall  adore  thee  and  rejoice  in  thy  blessed  name."     Hs^v- 
mg  uttered  these  words,  he  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord,  on  the 
25 t,h  of  August,.  1270. 

Although  the  Crusades  did  pot  a^r^plish  the  ^eat 
object  iii^'ded,  yet  they  Ixvame.  in  (he  hands  of  God 
the  means  of  much  good.  >rhe  increased  lil,erty  and 
nni.n.vementof-#he  middle  classes,  (lie  founding^f  new 
states  and  govern i^s,  great  advancement  in  the  several 
(InKU'tn.ents  of  knowledge,  an' ^reeedented  cxf|^|^.n 
of  Luropcan  commerce,  wei-e  solTO  of- the  resuKs^Rio 
Crusades.  But  the  hiost  precious  fruit  of  all,  was^mt 
mtenor  awakening  of  the  soul  towards  Christ  and  his 
kingdom,  which  during  those  two  centuries  took  perma 
nent  hold  on  Christiuns  a„d  their  leaders;  familiarizin 
tlie  nobility  aiid  the  multitude  with  the  history  of  C 


<y 


li\^ 


M 


^.' 


1 

i 

i 

« 

1 

f  .u 

.-.^'1 


V*'i 


'\ ' 


t    \      %'%- 


CHKKT   IN   PUS   CHURCH 


SirM-  i~ 
ifiTtb 


^•^  monks  \¥' 


'■  "'Hi'' 


elevating   and  ^tefining   all    classes,   anci^ 
fthe   threa,  great,  i  religious   orders  of  knfi* 
:•    Church.  ^         vj  ,  ,       ^^        i^ '       '" 

'  Th^- glorious  ;lpirit  wmcb^animmed  th 
*  armor,"  may  be  b^M.unde^tllili.  by  riix»a|^  oFtho  questions 
•     put  to  each  candi(|^^  at  tlfe^Kpie  of  lii's  adnjitision  to  the 
"  brotherhood :  '''©o>^ou  solcninlsp^iise,^gldved  hf^L 
'  .  in  thil^namf'  of,  GocK^jSnd  tho%e#a^fMj>  k)";!^©^ 
if e^dng  obedience  to  (^cl#;i|^f-y()tt|,s"ui||^rgf^^^ 

nly  p?tolise,  in  thfe  ritoenot'v'O'tM"  ai^ 
^ter  .^!4p[i,i-y,    perpetual    celibacy   and,  perfect 
fctnd  Body?    ,,Do  you  solertijily  pledge  your-^, 
iiy|c  forever  all  your  worMlv  gooffs,   and  to  • 
ift^'Qi'i^Si;  in  poverty  and  subni5||jon,  and  to  risk 


,1 
y 


y^ottT,  (Ute  for  the  deliverance  of  the  H^  Land?     As  you 

,' promise  each  and  all  of  these  tilings,  we||eceive  you  ii\to 

^the  holy>biK)therhood,  and  promise  you  aread  and  watLT, 

%}ie  simple  garb  of  our  monastery,  and  lab%  and  trials  in 

^bundatiCe." 

The  first  of '■these  Orders,  ii\  point  of  ninlc,. were  the 
Knights  of  St.  .J(jhn,  a*fter\vards  termed  the  Knights  of 
Rhodes,  or  of  Malta.  These  owed  tluMr  origin  to  some 
Italian  traders,  ^vno  in  the  year  1048  founded  at  Jerusa- 
lero  a  hospital  for  the  ii<e  of  sick  pilgrims.  During  the 
Crusades,  fhis  hosjiital  obtained  numerous  endowments  and 
privileges,  and  many  kiiights  re(iKested  admission  to  the 
communitv  in  chartjft  of  the  institution.  Finallv,  in  the 
year  1120,  this  Order  became,  under  the  lea(r  of  its  head, 
Raymond  of  Puy,  au  Order  of  knights,  having  foi-  their 
main  object  <<  he. (jverthrow  of  the  SaraceiijS.  'Afterwards, 
when  Palestiim  was  wrested  froii|  the  lu 
tians,  these  K^iiight -Hospitallers  moved 
tt)  tlio  iidHl,(^  of  Cy])rus,  thence 

a.     The  Order  diffuse 


1530,  to 

and  its  moTiibers  acquired^undyi 

and    efficient   services    that    they 


of  the  (Hiris- 
heiui(|uarters 


and  again,  in 

eriill  Euroj)e, 

for  the  faithful 

in   the    wars 


0^ 


HISTOKY    OF   THE    CKUSAUEH. 


y 

r        167 


against  the  Turks  and  tlie  C 
and  Algficrs-. 


orsairs  from  Tunis^^  Tripoli 


irs  \vii»foundod  by  Hugli 


The  Order  of  Knight-Tempi 
of  Paganis  in  the  year  1118,  at  Jerusalem  ;  in  wl/ich  cfty  ' 
tliey  had  their  chief  moiuistery,  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  so-called  Solomon's  Temple.     Tliey  soan  became 
the  most  dreaded  enemies  of  the  infidels.     After  the  close 
of  the  Crusades,  the  chief  liouses  of  their  Order  were  in; 
France,  wliero  it  owned  large  possessions.     Their  wealth' 
aroused  the  avarice  of  tlio  unprincipled  king  of  that  coun- 
try,  Louis  the  Fair,  wlio  i)ut  into,  circulation  tlie  most 
shocknig  rei)orts  against  the  character  .of  tlfe  Templars, 
and  at  last  succeeded,  in  131^,  in  compelling  Pope  Clem- 
ent  v.,  whom  he  liehl  in  his  power  at  Avigndn, 'to  pfo- 
.  claim  the  su})pression  of  the  Order.  - 

.  The  origin  of  tlie  German  Ordev  was  very  similar  to 
thos&  of  the  two  just  described.      It  took  its  rise,  about 
the  year  1190,  from  aCertain  ho8i)ital  called  "the  (ierman 
House  of  our  Blessed  Lady  at  Jerusalem."     Aft(>r  their  \ 
return  from  tiie  Fast,  the  meuibers  of  this  Gernum  knight-    ^' 
hood  were  sent  against  the  i)ugiin  Prussians,  whose  forces' 
they  coiKiuered.     These  martial  monks  displayed  so  much 
judgment,  and  worked  with  such  diligence,  that  this  hith- 
erto heathen  people  were  Ijrought  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 
In  the  year  1525,  CouiiC  Albert  of  Brandenburg,  Grand 
Master  of  the  Order,  proved  uutrue  tojiis  brotherliood  and 
>)  the  Catholic  religion,  and  converted  the  lands  of  the 
Order,  in  Prussia,   into  a  civic,  ])rovin('e.     However,  the 
rest  of  thelbommunities  in  other  German  c/)untries'eon-' 
tiuuedlovMl  t(fc  the  Church  and   the  em penu:,  rendering 
invaluable:-  services  in  the  wars  of  the  'KeformUtion  and 
aganiKt  the  Turks.      ^ 


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168  CHKIST    IN    Ills    CHURCH. 


49.  The  History  of  the  Franciscans. 

CAPUCINS. 

"Come  to  mc,  all  you  that  labor  and  are  burdened,  and  I  will 
refresh  you.  Learn  of  nie,  be^iause  I  am  meek  and  humble  of 
lieart." — Matthew  xi.  28,  29. 

As  the  motto  of  the  foregoing  Orders  Avas  "Chris- 
tian Warrior,"  and  their  aim  Christian  courage  and 
cliivah-ic  self-sacrifice  on  tlie  field  of  battle,  so  in  the 
Order  founded  by  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  in  the  year  1212, 
the  p«edominant  traits  were  Christian  humility  and  quiet 
self-sacrifice. '  The  fondness  entertained  for  sports  and 
tournaments  in  liis  youth  by  this  man  of  (rod,  suddenly 
gave  place  to  tlie  most  perfect  contemjTt  for  things  of 
earth,  and  was  reijlaqed  by  an  ardent  zeal  for  the  glory  of 
God's  kingdom.  Having  given  all  his  possessions  to  the 
poor,  ho  was  disinherited  by  his  father,  and  looked  upon 
by  the  woj'ld  as  a  fanatic.  He,  however,  took  refuge  in  a 
half-ruined  church,  called  "  Our  Lady  of  Angels,"  Avliich 
hjid  been  placed  at  his  disposal  "by  a  licnedictine  abbot. 
This  edifice  he  restored  by  means  of  tlie  aljH(i^  contributed 


by  generous  admirers,  calling  it  his  little  Legacy  {Porti- 
unrula).  His  sevel'e  spirit  of  penance,  joined  with  a  child- 
like cheerfulness  and  humble  disposition  of  mind,  attracted 
many  companions  about  him,  with  whom  ho  "made  pil- 
grimages through  the  country,  ])reaching  jienance,  not 
indeed  by  sublime  and  learned  eloquence,  but  in  ])lain  and 
simi)le  language,  intelligible  to  the  least  cultivated  minds 
and  hearts. '  \ 

But  their  most  effective  sermon  was  the  example  of 
their  holy  poverty  and  self-denial.  Altlunigh  the  indi- 
vidual members  of  the  old  Benedictine  oi-der  were  re- 
quired to  observe  strict  poverty,  yet  their  monasteries,  as 
such,  were  permitted  to  own  money  and  lands.     But  this 


;* 


HISTORY    OF   TUE   FRANCISCANS. 


169 


Francis.  The  communities  were  to  live  on  the  daily  alms 
of  the  faithful  people,  the  monasteries  should  .possess  no 
wealth,  and  all  over  above  their  wants  was  to  be  given  to 
the  poor. 

This  severe  voluntary  poverty  was  to  ])o  the  foundation- 
stone  of  tjie  Order.  8t.  Francis  called  it  the  ''  Bride  of 
Christ,"  the  source  find  foundation,  the  very  queen,  of-all 
other  virtues. 

^     His  rule  of  life  was  approved   \)y  Pope  Ilonorius  in 


t 


Death  of  St.  Francis  of  Asaisl. 

1223.  When  the  holy  Founder  died,  onlv' t^ryears 
I'lter,  the  members  of  his  Order  could  be  counted  by  thou- 
sands. Our  divine  Lord,  ,n  order  to  give  sui)ernatural 
proof  before  all  men  that  he  still  lived  nUiis  saints  and  in 
^eir  establishments,  but  more  especiajlv  in  St.  Francis, 
lis  pleased  to  imprint  in  a  most  miraculous  "manner  the 
toks  of  bus  live  wounds  in  the  hands, 'feet,  and  side  of 
tne..\aiut,  about  two  years  before  his  death. 


m 


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170 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


nearWJHJMMBro  monasteries,  with  two  hundred  thou- 
sandpp^W^^On  account  of  the  excessive  charity  of 
thei|^^under,  they  were  called  the  Seraphic  Brethren,  and 
on'kceount  of  their  humility,  the  Little  Brethren,  or  the 
'  friars  Minor.  Soon  many  pious  virgins,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  ^t.  Clare,  s^pp|9li%nselves  to  the  rule  of  St. 
Francis,  and  were  Known  by  different  names  in  different 
localities.  Moreover,  in  course  of  time,  another  branch 
was  established  for  persons  who,  though  living  in  the 
world,  followed  the  rule,  and  i)ut  themselves  under  the 
direction  of  the  Franciscans.  These  are  called  "The 
Third  Order." 

Among  the  spiritual  sons  of  St.)  Francis  many  were 
distinguished  for  their  learning  and  /)iety.  For  example,' 
the  renowned  miracle-w^orkcr,  St>Antony  of  Padua,  who 
dibd  in  1231;  the  prof(Sindly  learald  Alexan^-  of  Hales, 
who  died  in  1245;  the  seraplri<fdoctor,  St.  Wnaventure, 
yfk^  died  in  1274;  the  intclle<^ual  Eoger  Bacon,  who  died 
.in  i^||;'and  John  Dims  f^otus,  the  celebrated  defender 
of  the  mystery  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mi<*|ff.     He  died  in  the  year  1308^ 

As  in  the  cfttrsia;  of  time,  i^e  spirit  of  the  world  m- 
vaded  Jgme  monasterieg  of  this^  Order,  bringing  Avith  it  a 
relaxat^^of '^ient  di8ci})line,  several  new  branches  were 
formed  hy  holy  persons,  Avho  made  it  the  object  of  their 
lives  to  mm'^fG  sficredly  the  spi^^t'of  St.  Francis  in  it^ 
original  pijjty  and  SQvefly.  The  most  ii%ortant  of  the^e 
branches  was  the  society^L^t'CapuchiMf  foi^ded  about 
the  year  1526  by  J^tthllF^^gi.  The  untying  activity 
of  these  truly  ap^jlfcc*  friar5,^and  their  clos6  observance 
of  rule,  have  secpp  t^heir  braneh  of  the  Franciscan 
Order  great  prosp^my,  and  made  it  an  object  of  the  affec- 
tion and  admiration  of  all  good  men. 


'M>. 


\ 


% 


I  i 


HISTOKY   OF   THE   DOMINICA^-S. 


171 


'• 


*^'.» 


>i 


50.  History  of  the  Dominicans,  or  the  Order  of 

Preachers. 

"The  word  of  God  is  living  and  effectual,  uiid  more  piercing 
than  any  two-edged  sword:  and  reaching  unto  the  soul  and  is  a 
discernerof  the  thoughts  and  intents  af  the  heart."— Hebrews  iv 

12. 

Our  Blessed  Lord  lias  in  every  instance  assigned  to 
each  Order,  at  the  time  of  its  origin,  its  own  special  mis- 
sion. Thus  ft;  became  the  duty  and  happy  privilege  of 
the  Benedictines  to  rescue  Europe  from  the  destruction 
threatened  and  partly  effected  by  the  incursions  of  the 
barbarous  Northmen.  The  Orders  of  knighthood  were 
established  to  save  Europe  from  the  inroads  of/the  Sara- 
^  cens ;  the  Franciscans  were  chosen  to  kindle  ^imong  the 
?  people  the  seraphic  fires  of  divine  love  ;  and  the  Domini- 
cans were  sent  to  keep  alive  and  burning,  amid  the  im- 
pending darkness  of  error  in  the  middle  ages,  the  light 
of  "divine  faith. 

Just  about  11:0,  the  year  in  which  St.  Dominic  was 
■  born  in  Spain,  the  Albigcnsian  heretics  were  afflicting  the 
Church  of  God  in  that  country,  in  England,  Germany, 
Italy,  and  especially  in  the  south  of  France.  St.  Dominic 
having  received  holy  orders,  and  animated  with  a  burning 
zeal  and  earnest  enthusiasm  for  the  ifeg  of  the  faith  in 
the  Church,   traversed  all  the  distiifttSfifected   by   the 


heresy,  and  preached  in  defence  of  tl^lmfe  faith.  Worthy 
and  zealous  men  soon  joined  him,  and  the  results  of  their 
preaching  were  marvellous.  The  devotion  of  the  holy 
Rosary,  which  St.  D(.minic  always  combined  with  his  ser- 
mons, imparted  a  wonderful  efficacy  to  iiig  words.  And 
thus  was  established  the  Order  of "^  Preachers,  otherwise 
called,  after  their  founder.  Dominicans.  Their  rule  was 
approved  and  confirmed  by  Pope  Honorius  simultaneously 
witji  the  approval  of  the  Franciscjin  Order.      T^kn  thflP» 


^^iBIS^^ 


172 


CHRIST   IN-   HIS   CHURCH. 


'I 


latter,  the  Dominicans  soon  established  a  female  branch, 
and  also  a   Third  Oder,  of  persons  living  in  the  world. 
St.  Dominic  died  on  the  4th  of  August,  1221,  five  years 
earlier  than  his  beloved'  friend  St.  Erancis.     His  Order 
continued   to  be  a  pillar  and  bulwark  of  strength  in  the 
Church.     To  it  the   Cliurch  is  indebted  for  one  of  the 
greatest   and    profoundest   of   l)er   modern   doctors     the 
grand-master   of  the  schools,    St.   Tlioraas  Aquinas,  who 
died  m  1274  ;  and  also  for  the  holy  Alhertus  Magnus   who 
was  completely  conversant  with  every  brancli  of  human 
knowledge,  and  wlio  died  in  the  year  1280.     The  members 
of  this  Order  were  usually  intrusted   by -the  Poj.es  with 
the  care  of  the  Inquisition  ;  tliat  is,  with  the  important 
duty  of  seriously  and  attentively  watching  over  the  faith 
of  the  Church,  lest  the  germs  ot  error  should  take  root  in 
some  regions,  spring  up  and  produce  ■hnhapi)y  fruits  of 
dissent,  and  disunion,  and  loss  of    souls.     This  was  the 
ecclesiastical   Inquisition,  and    is    in   no  Avav  to   be   con- 
founded with  the  Spanish  Inquisition,  wliich  was  chiefly 
a  political  institution,  and  used  more  for  i)()liti('al  than 
religious  purposes,  and  against  the  excesses  of  which  tlie 
Popes  frequently  Protested. 


i! 


51.  The  Jesuits. 

"If  the  world  hate  you,  know  yc  tluit  it  IntU  liated  me  before 
you.  Rcmembor  my  word.  If  they  Iiuve  persecuted  me,  they  will 
also  persecute  you."— .John  xv.  18  and  20. 

As  the  Church  w^as  called  ui)on,  in  the  twelfth  and 
thirteenth  centuries,  to  combat  the  errors  of  the  Albi 
genses,  she  was  agq^in,  in  the  sixteenth  centurv,  obliged 
to  enter  the  lists  of  spiritual  warfare  against  the  hosts*' of 
so-called  refoi-mers.  But  as  in  the  first  instance  Christ 
proved  himself,  through  the  person  of  St.  Dominic,  to  be 
still  hvmg  in  the  Church,  so  will  he  now  show  that  he  yet 


HISTORY   OF   THE  JESUITS. 


173 


abides  in  his  Church,  and  Ignatius  and  hi.s  companions 
will  furnish  ample  proof  of  this  truth. 

The  much-abused,  cordiully-detestcd,  and  severely-per- 
secuted   order  of  Jesuits  was  founded   in  1535,    and   its 
constitution  was  confirmed  by  Pope    Paul  III.  iu  1540. 
It  had  for  its  original  object  missionary  work  among  the 
heathens,  and   among  those    Christians   who    had   been 
bhnded  and  led  astray  by  error.     To  this  worthy  object 
was    afterwards   added    that    of    educating    youth      St^^ 
Ignatms,  born  in   149i  in  the  Spanish  castle  of  Loyola" 
abandoned  m  1522,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one,  the  army  of 
the  world  to  enroll  himself  among  the  soldiers  of  the  cross 
and  soon  after  established  his  glorious  and  world-renowned 
Order  of  the  -Society  of  Jesus  ;"  with  his  chosen  friends 
Francis  Xavier,  Peter  Lefevre,  James  Lainez,  Alphonsus 
Salmeron,  Nicholas  Bobadilla,  and  Alphonsus  Eodriguez 
as  his  first  companions.      To  this  order  of  Jesuits,  the 
Catholic  countries  of  Eur()i)e,   especially  Southern  Ger- 
many, are  indebted  for  their  preservation  or  deliverance 
from   the   errors    and   miseries    of    Protestantism.     The 
whole  Catholic  world  has  to  thank  this  Order  for  their 
greatest  missionaries  ;  the  educated  classes  of  Europe  for 
their  most  learned  professors  ;  the  Church  recognizes  its 
members  as  her  stoutest  and  ablest  defenders,  and  count- 
less  sinners  owe.  to    them   their   salvation;    pious   souls 
regard  them  as  their  surest  and  most  enlightened  guides 
on  the  road  to  Christian  perfection.     St.  Ignatius  died  on 
the  31st  of  July,  1556.     '  # 

If  we  inquire  hy  what  magical  means  the  Fathers  of  the^ 
Society  of  Jefas  effected  such  wonders,  we  will  learn  that 
there  arejffre^^p-incipal  agencies: 

1.  A  ri|Wus,and  unrestricted  obedience  to  all  ecclesi- 
astical superiors,, in  all   that  is   not   sinful.     The   most 
obedient  of  obedient  religious  also  exacts  implicit  obedi-     ' 
ence  from  those  under  his  charge. 

2.  The  long  and  thorough  course ^_^i dies  pirsnod  — 


! 


174 


CHRIST   IN   Ilia   CHURCH. 


by' the  Jesuits.     The  true  disciplc''of  St.   Ignatius  con-''' 
siders   a.  oo-urso   of  studies  consuming   twenty  years  as 
bargiy  long>  enough  to  fit  him  for  i\  successful  active  life  ;. 
.    iind  i-f  he  spend  but  ten  or  even  five' years  in  actual  ser- 
.vice,  lie  deems  it  better  and  more  i)ro1[itable,  and  hopes  to 
gather  more  abundant  and    preciou»  fruit,    than   if   he 
(^      labared  for  forty  years  with  a  mind  and  soul  only  imper- ' 
"^-  fectly  prepared  for  the.  work.  '       ^ '- 

3,  The  spiritual  exercises  of  St.  Ignatius.     While  the 
founder  of  tlie  Jesuits  was  })rei)aring  himself  4n  solitude  in 
the  cave  at  Manresa,  for   the  grand   jgid   dithcult  AKork  of '. 
-  founding  an  Order,  the  divine  Spirit,  fiipplied  iiim  with  a- 
most  efficient  means  of  success  in   the  "Spiritual  Exer-'^ 
cises."     The   Christian  whd  avails   himself  of  .this  great- 
work,  s})ends  several  days  in  a  \vell-ogkM-<'(rm64itation.  on 
eternal  truths,  altermited  with  .prayer  and  sprri-tual  road-' 
ing;    learning  thus   to  amend  liis*mode  of^piritual  life,    ," 
and  advancing  by  a  judicious,  skilful,  and  vt'ry  attractive"    * 
gradation  of  mtri'ii      inipi-ovcihcnt,  and    i  cleansing  .air]  I- . 
enlightenment  of  soul,  to  ;i  nu)st;  int  iiuaio  and  permanejit  •• 
union  with  (jod.     The  ;i|)plif;5iti(.n  »\'  this  frulv  heavenl^.       i 
means  to  their  own  lives  .ind  t:0  ihw  lives  of  others,  haJfe'-v,,^ 
secured  to  the  Jesuits  that^ex^trnordiijary  power  over  tfiei 
•  ^  ^  minds  of  men,  which  has  lillM'lhc  cnvi^ms'  Ju-arts  of  the 
,  '-^ehemies  of  (iod  hud  o^  his  ■OJ^f'h  with   absu.d  concern 
.  arid  biirning  iuitij;.  'W^ 

♦/       These  enemies    did    succeed,   through    the   combined 

•  influence  of  the  kings  of   Portugal,   Spain,    Niiples;  and' 

„   France,  in  inducing  Pope  Clement  MV.,  not  thdeecf  fo"* 

condemn,  but  to  su|)press  tli'is   Order  in    ITTM.      It  H-as 

re-establisiu>d  in  IHllhy  Poi)e  Plus  VII.,  who  restored  lo 

it  all  its  ancients  rights  and  privileges.  * 


f: 


t 


■  "'i- 


r> 


It 


■■•■ 

IT 


m 


tj»i 


THE   KEDEMPTOKISTS. 


176 


r 


52.  The  Redemptorists. 

"The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  wherefore  he  hath 
anointed  me,  to,  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  poor  lie  hath  sent  me,  to 
heal  the  coutri\e  of  heart."— Luke  iv.  1^".  '", 

St':''^])lioiisus-  Mury  Liguori  was  the  founder  of  the 
Society  6f  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  sometimes  called  tlfe 
Jiiguoriuns^  but  generally  known  as  the  Redemptorists. 

,     He  began  to  form  his  Society  at  Naples  in  \r.Vl,  but  it  was 

not'until  17^9,  twenty-seven  years  jatcr,  that  I'ope  Benedict 

XIV.  confirAiod  its  constitution.     As  it  had  been  for  many 

■    long  years  llie  freely  and*chcerfully  self-imposed  duty  of 

Alphonsus  t()  go  in  search  of  poor  negl'vcted  ])er8ons,  in 

,    order  to  afford  them  relief' both  for  soul  and  body,  m  too 

it  was  his  ardent  desire  that  his  disciples  should  serve  as 

,    '*  missionaries  for  the  ])()()re(?t  and  moat  neglected  sheep" 

of  Christ's  iloek.      He  was  compelled,  much  against  his 

^    \Vill,  to  accept  in  176i?  the  episcopal  chair  of  St.  Agatha 

^  of  the 'Goths.  IIo"still  continued  to  live  in  closest  wm- 
munio^)  with  his  Society,  acting  as  their  chi.ef  director  and 
JMlviscr.'  He  enriched  the  Church  witl^copious,  profound,' 
ami  edifving  writ-i-ngs,  ajtubdied  on  the  Ist  of  August, 
1787,  at  the  advanced  age  (^'ninpty-ono  years.     The  mem- 

;  hers  of  his  Congr(>gat  itm  spread'! hrougiiout-Eu rope;  prellch- 
ing  in  Poland.  Austria^iermany,  Switwrliind,  France,  and 


m 


in  America;  every  wl|?re  rendering  incalculable  service  to. 
our  lioly  Church,  by  their  arduous  and  wellr«|tten»3o<i  mis- 
."ions,   by  defending  al»ly  and   valiantly   the.n^orplitv  of 
Jesus  Christ,  by  encoura.ging  and  strengthertwig  myria(h<r^ 
,of  fhwkH/^und  evcp  tlicir  piistoj-s.Jn  Z(«al  and  i)iety,  as  welT-^ 
as  by  training  youngf  men  for  the  sublime  w^rk    of  the     , 
ministry.  '  / 


f 


m 


« • 


j-,9 


-»rv- 


JC- 


t 


\ 


\.   \ 


-  ■/ 


176 


CHRIST    IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


•>    -Jl 


53.  History  of  the  Religipus  Bodies  dedicated  to 
Schools,  or  to  the  Care  of  the  Sick  and  Destitute. 

"Josus  saith:  Suffer  thu  little  children  to  come  unto  me.  And 
embracing  them,  ami  laying  his  hands  upon  them,  he  bfessed 
them.  "—Mark  X.  14  and  16. 

Our  blcissed  Lord  und  SiiTiour  Jesus  Christ,  during  his 
brief  sojourn  on  eartli,  ulwavs  niaiiilV^ted  liis  iuliuite  per- 


Christian  Chal-ity. 

fodion  HFul  holin(-MH\  >u.t  onh  hv  Ins  /.  nl  for  tl„.  1, „,„.,•  of 
hislicnvcnlv  F;,thcr.  I.n,  ,|su  hv  hi.  unluMindc,!  rn,  rcy  and 
love  (owar<j.^  poor  ,nd  n.r.lv  nirn.  T),i<  K;,nie  holiness 
of  .fesus  ni.nsi  1.  *<ilkM.a.l.  jnact  ,ra[l\  ,-.tnu(rsi  m  the 
(Minrrh,  and  -|hj(  ..dU  n  li,,'  rMii^iou*;  l/jglnot  only  by 
the  more  i..!...,!  ,on  lo  <.,„|.  M,t  al.o  m  m|,„,,,,s;ion. 
ate  devot.  ■     f.,    Und:  sake,  to  hunu„n  v  ijTa.  earthly 


K 


HISTORY   OF   THE  TEACHING   ORDERS,  ETC.      177 

wants.      Tliis   devotion  is  the  source  and   origin   of  all 
those  numerous  mule  and  fe;^ale  Orders  nvho  consecrate' 
themselves  to  the  instruction  of  the  people,   and  to  the 
care  of  orplians,  the  sick,  and  the  poor. 

Both  of  those  works,  namely,  the  Christian  education 
of  youtli  and  the  care  of  the  poor,  have  ever  been  cherished 
duties  dear  to  the  heart  of  tlie  Church.  And  our  holy 
mother  looks  on  witJi  deej)  anguisii  of  soul,  as  she  sees  the 
politicians  of  the  present  chiy  tearing  the  young  and  the 
poor  away  from  her  motherly  i)rotcction,  and  by  means  of 
tax-schools  and  politicul  po.u--]iouses;  making^i  pretence 
to  discharge  duties  which  slio  alone  is  entitled  to  dk- 
(■harg(>,  and  which  for  (HMituries  she  has  discharged,  cn- 
ligiitenod  as  she  was  by  the  wisdon/of  Christ,  and  filled 
with  his  holy  and  disinterested  charity.  The  en'emies  of 
the  Ciiureh  know  well  what  Ihey  are  dOing.  They  would 
sever  ediicatjon  and  tlu-  care  of  the  i)oor  from  the  ChilTch 
m  the  hope  of  dragging  her  into  contempt  with  the  peo- 
ple; they  would   point  at  her  the  linger  of  scorn,  and  say 

'"  >1h' unthinking  niass(;^: -"  See  how  idle,  srow,and  useless 
to  soeu.ly  voiir  Church  is."''*  But  when  this  measure  of 
n.llv.  that  is  fiMW  lining  up  fn.ru  ,h.y  to  dav,  slialk  have 
'••'■•"■'"■•I  flK'  I'lini  and  begins  to  overflcKw;  when  once  tho.^- 
'  i/ildren  who  are  now  being  taii-gf if  learning  devoid  of  re- 
ligion, shair  have  grown  tii)1iiaiilioo(i  and  womanhood,  and 
shall  give  e\ideiiee  of  t  lielif  lacL  of  prinri|)le.  .)f  all  belief 
III  (io<|.  of  bnne.sty,  justice,  of  submission  to  (iod'swill; 
when,  believing  as  (hey  JiHye  ben  taugjit  to  believe,  that 
success  in  life  h  I,,  b,.  I  he' great  aim  of  I  heir  efforts,  the 
disastrous  system  of  godless  education  sh^U  hnve  borne  its 
legitimate   fnnis.      Alrea<lv  *e  .see  sociaf  disorder,   finan- 


Bdence  lietween 
ong  the  lowlv. 


cial  di.stress  and  confii>ion.  absence 

man  and   man,   poverlv    a,n<l   suiTt 

mental   agony  among  the  wf^altlr^'.lirr bccai»|e  each  man 

knows  that  his  neiglib..r  is  sti^ving,  regjlrdless  of  religion. 

lo  l>ecome  richer  than  he.    >;ven  the  poor,  who  from  time 


■?.,■ 


W 


-fT 


I 


178 


CIIKIST   IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


immemoriiil  were  content,  to  receive  the  voluntury  offer- 
ings of  tlie|  Church;  now  begin  to   understand   tJiat  the 
present  .system   of  uidiug   tlieiu  is  altogetiier  a  i)olit>ical     ■ 
machine.     They  cUiim  a  riglit  to  be  su])i)orted  from  the 
abundance  o^  taxes  extorted  from  the  industrial  classes, 
■and  as  taxes  are  increased  for-the  support  of  the  i)oor,  the 
industrious  are  tlius  nuulc  i)oor  themselves,  and  sot^  l)e- 
.gin  to  demand  that  they  shall/have  a  share  in  what  they 
We  already  j)aid  to  the  tax-gatherer.     Thus  })aup,erism  is 
frightfully  on  the  increase,  and  becoming^^ery  day  more 
odious  and  intolerable.     The  charge  of  assistingViod's  poor 
was  delivered  to  God's  Church,  and  not  to  salaried  poli- 
ticians.    The  time  must  certainly  come  when  thoughtful 
men  will  discover  these  evils  that  arc  uiulermining  society, 
and  will  be  glad  to  have  recourse  to  the  wisdom,. and  ex- 
perience, aud  sujuM-natural  excellenc(>  of' the  Church;  be- 
seeching her  to  brijig  tiie  power  of  the  Gospel  and  of  the 
Sacraments  to  tiie  restoration  of  contentment  among  all 
classes,  and  to  the  re-establishment  of  security  in  the  very     ' 
important  alTairs  of  life  and  propertv. 

As  already  state*!,  l)oth  the  children  and  the  poor  were 
placed  by  Christ  and-his  Apostles  under  tiie  guardianship 
of  the  Cluirch.  During  .rnturies,  she  took  unexc'eption- 
ably  good  care  of  l,olh.  Her  free  schools  b<-ar  witness,  to 
her  fidelity  towards  her  chihlren.  Tn  remote  antiquity 
and  in  the  middle  ages,  the?<e  schoi^ls  were  to  be  found  in 
the  palaces  of  h(*f  bishops,  in  the  iialls  of  her  hallowed 
cloisters,  and  even  under  thr  roofs  Of  her  humble  hut 
learned  count i-y  parish-priesfs.  JLence  a  learned  Protes- 
tant historian.  Haumer.  asserts  that  "the  merit  of  ostab 
lishing  and  ryamtaining' siiioijls  in  the  dark  ages  belongs 
excliisivnly  to  tho  priests  and  other  ecclesiastic-s.*' 

TIh!  Church  lU'ver  neglected  "the  needy,  All  through 
the  first  ;.-e.  of  Cbnstifinity  ^nd  in  mediiL'val  limt?M.  she 
kept  her  voice  raised  in  belutlf  of  (i-od^  poor.  Decrees  of 
PojK-'s  and  ('(Mincil>i.  mandates  of  liisjiop^  und  other  eccle- 


1  !■ 

IP 

i? 

k 

i    ■ 

•^ 


/     «;l/ 


Oirislian  ScIkwI* 


^■<; 


IlISTOKV    OF    THE   TEAOJIINCJ    ORDERS,    ETC.      179 

siastical    autliorities,,    have    eoiKstaiitly  warned    tliose    in 
,       charge  of  ^ouls,  that  the  revenue  of^he  eliurches  were  the 
.     property. of  the  poor  and  tlie  intirni.  of  the  widow  and  the 
^        'orphan.     Bisliops  were  i-cquired  to  exercise  in  tlieir  dio- 
ceses a  very  siJeeial  solicitude  for- the   lielpless  ami  desti- 
tute; the  pastors  of  souls  were  also  required  to  know  the 
/  poor  in  their  parishes,  and  to  take  measures  for  their  re- 
lief; using  for  that,  juiri^se  the  revenues  of  the  Church 
,  and  the  rt])ecial  offerings  of  the  benevolent.     In  fact  it  wns 


general  law  of  the  Cyureh.  ;i 


nd 


ulouslv  observed,  tin 


he    Chiiicl 


livided  -into  t 


aw  i.n  niOflt  ])art  scru- 
1  fevenues  were  to  b(> 


ii'ce  ))arts:    on(»tli:r(l    to  be  used   for  tlu 


ecent  support  of  the  clergy.  (Uie  tiiinl  for  the  keeping  of 
'"nirch  and  the  maintenance  of  n^ligiouw  worship,  and 


theC 
orie  tl 


iininvariabiv  for  (he  ixutr.     Tlni 


?  wv.  see 


(hat 


times  and   in  all  <'irc 


umstan<'es  the  Catholic  Church  h 


devoted    her.  time,  and    att^'nt*i 


on. 


energu 


und 


180 


CHRIST   IN   Hiq  CHURCH. 


much  of  her  means  in  educating  her  children,  and  in  com- 
forting her  poor. 

Where  could  the  Church  find  safer  hands  in  whicfe  to 
place  both  her  poor  and  her  little  children,  than  among 
yaripus  religious  associations  of  brothers  and  of  sisters. 
The  members  of  these  communities  being  free  from  family 
cares  and  ties,  from  the  distractions  of  the  world,  being 
devoid  of  selfishness  and  regardless  of  worldly  gain,  hav- 
ing their  souls  constantly  invigojatcd  fcif  prayer  and  medi- 
tation U)  renewed  sacrifices, .'^vatched  over  and  guided  by 
wise  and  experienced  directors,  animated  by^^e  examples 
of  fellow  religious;  devoted  to  Jesus  Christ,  anaVell  versed 
111  all  spiritual  things  and  in  all  human  weaknesses,  it  is 
not  i)ossil»i<?  that  their  efforts  in  doittg  good  should  prove 
barren  of  the  most  gratifying  results.     It  is  next  to  im])os- 
sible  tiiat  a  pupil  at  school,  a  patient  in  a  hospital,  or  a 
poor  jierson   under  the  care  of  such  devoted  guardians, 
should    not   be   carefully   and    tenderly  treated    in    these 
veritable  sanc*^^aaries  of  the  Church.     Hence*  at  every  })e- 
riod  of  the  Church's  existence,  since  the  close  of  the  pagan 
persecutions,  the  religious  Orders  of  monks  and  nuns  have 
sedulously  and  fondly  devoted  themselves  to  the  sujiport 
and  edu(uition  both  of  the  ori)han  child  and  the  aged  in- 
valid.    Jn  modern  times  these  se+f-sacrificing  associations 
have  become  almost  innumerable. 

To  superintend  the  educittion  of  youth.  St.  Jerome 
Emiliani  founded,  in  1528,  the  Congregation  of  the  Clerks 
Regular  of  Homascha;  and  St.  Joseph  Calasanctius,  the 
Society  of  the.  Piarists,  or  Fathers  of  the  Pious  Sciiools,  in 
1597.  The  Society  of  ihe  Brothers  of  the  (Christian 
Schools,  was  foundwl,  at  Klieims,  in  J(J8I,  by  the  Vener- 
able John  Baptist  i)e  La  Salle.  The  Marian  brothers  took 
their  rise  in  the  diocese  of  Lyons  in  IHIG.  The  Ursulines 
were  establisiied  "in  1544  })y  St.  Angela  of  Brescia.  The 
Visitation  Nuns,  by  St.  Francis  qf  Chantal  in  the  year 
1610.     Countless  other  orders  in  all  countries  and-  in  all 


llT 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TEACHING   ORDERS,  ETC.       181 

^circumstances  have  been  set  on  foot  to  meet  the  wants  of 
I  their  respective  localities  and  times:  We  may  forin  some 
notion,  though  an  imi)erfect  one,' of  the  efficiency  of  these 
rehgious  societies,  ^)y  referring  to  France  alone,  which  , 
.  counts  more  than  sixteen  thousand  schools,  containing 
more  than  a  million  of  children  under  the  guidance  and 
tutorship. of  educatiomi}  communities  of  monks  and  nuns.* 


8t.  Viiuvnt  of  Paul. 

Of  the  many  religious  roniiuimities  founded  bv  holv 
and  bonovolent  j.orsons  ff7>-  the  protortiou  and  ca>Kof  the 
sick,  the  bliud.  i\w  crippled,  '.uul  the  destitute  meters 
<'f  sn,.,ety,  nientio.i  nuiy  simpi^v  be  nuide  of  the  BrotlSrs 
or  Clianty,  ost.iblished  in  the  vonr  l.Ho  bv  St  John  of 
<io«l.  iind   the  Sisters  of  (^luiritf  esf.d.b-she.lin   Fr-ice,  in' 

♦  Binee  (l.r  ahov,.  was  w,i(ton.  many  of  the  rolipious  r.ommnmtioH 
lav..  beon  l,an,,sl.o,l  by  tlu-  Gov..rnuHM.t,  and  many  soIiooIh  are  thus 
nrOKcn  up.  


^ 


^ 


HI  I 


182 


CHRIST   IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


1633\  by  St.  Vincent  of  Paul.  All  the  good  accomplished 
by  these  self-sacrificing  religious  orders  since  their  estab- 
lishment, is  khown  only  to  God.  Though  men  have  seen 
them  at  their  incessant  labors  in  hospitals,  refuges,  re- 
formatories, and  prisons;. in  the  cabins  of  the  poor  and 
the  wretched,  assuaging  and  alleviating  pain  and  misery 
and  poverty,  yet  no  one  but  God  can  fully  estimate  the 
value  and  merit  of  their  labors.  We  may  approximate  an 
idea  of  their  good  works  when  we  learn  that  in  one  coun- 
try alone,  Austria,  the  Brothers  of  Charity,  during  a  siu- 
gle  year,  received  into  their  institutions,  and  treated  gra- 
tuitously, more  than  twenty-four  thousand  i)atients  of  all 
religions  and  nationalities. 

^      In  America,  as  in  .the  older  nations  of  the  Church,  the 
religious  Orders  have  given  eveiy  i)os8il)le  evidence  of  ful- 
filling in  their  'daily  conduct    tiie  saying  of  the  Apostle 
Paul:  "This  is  tjic  will  of   (}od,  your  sanctification"  (1 
Thcgsalonian.9  iv.  3).     "If  thou   wilt   be  perfect,  go,  sell 
what  thou  hast  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  come,  follow  me" 
(Matthew  xix.  21>.     The  missionaries  of  the  Nc\y  World 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  zeal  and  sclf-sacrihce  to 
a  degree  little  less  than  that  of  the  Apostles  themselves. 
Tlie  Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  and  of  otlier  Orders 
first  planted   the    Cliurcli.    and    then    set   to    work    with 
ability  and  zeal  to  educate   not  only  the  children  of  the 
forest,  but  also  the  sons  of  the  hardy  ]»i()neers  who  came 
with  their  faith  from  Europe.     Next  foUowed  the  Chris- 
tian   Brothers,   who  soon   became    the  admiration    of   nil 
friends  of  education.      With  wonderful  ra[)iditv  they  mul- 
tiplied   their   admirable  parish-schUbls.    where,    besides    a 
thorough   training  of  the  mind,   they  imparted    to   their 
])upils  a  correct   knowledge^  of  their  duties  to  (Jod.     The 
Sisters  of  Charity,  the  Ljidies  of  the  Sacred    Heart,   the 
Sisters  of  Nytre  Dame,  the  Sisters  of  St.  Ju.se[>h.  nttd  many 
ofher  communities  <)f  gentle,  ]}ious,  and  educated  ladies, 
have  devoted  tlieir'|ives  and  talents  to  the  infusing  of  the 


.    HISTORY    OF   THE   TEACHING  -OKDEKS,  ETC.       183 

Spirit  oPbhrist  and  of  liis  CImroh  into  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  the  daugliters  of  America. 

Whenevei^ orphans  were  to  be  cared  for,  deaf  and  dumb 
to  be  taught,  the  maimed,  the  blind,  and  the  decrepit  to 
be  fed  and  clothed,  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  and  Domi- 
nic, tl^e  Sisters  of  Mercy  and  of  Cliaritv,  of  Providence 
und  of  the  Holy  Cross,  were  found  read/to  devote  them- 
selves to  the  care  of  these  afflicted  vet  loved  ones  of  the 
Saviour.  The  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor  have  thrown  com- 
fort, shelter,  and  happiness  about  the  declining  years  of 
the  aged  and  infirm. 

Long  before  the  nation  had  celel^rated  its  centennial 
anniversary,  the  face  of  tlie  countrv  from  tlu^  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacihc,  was  stuchied  ui(h  those  jewels  alwavs  so  dear 
to  the  heart  of  the  Catholic  Churci,.  monasteries;  and  con- 
vents of  religious  men  and  women,  in  all  of  which  the 
members,  while  carrying  out  the  c.Minsel  of  Christ;  "Be 
ye  perfect,  as  also  you,-  heavenly  Father  is  perfect,"  also 
labore.l  lor  the  well-beit.g,  temporal  and  spiritual,  of  their 
fellow-creatures.  To-day  the  teacliing  Onlers  and  the  Or- 
ders for  caring  for  the  p^and  <lestitute,  are  to  be  found 
<»  alnio.t  every  town  of  an>V,i,e  within  the  United  States 
an.l  Canada,  laboring  zealously  in  the  cnuse  of  religion  and 
liumanity.   ' 

Thus  is  plainly  shown  Hie  plenitude  of  holiness  that, 
has  flourished,  since  the  .htwn  of  Christianitv.  in  all  the 
rehgious  Orders  ot  the  one  true  Cliurch.  We  jierceive  that 
the  life  ol  Christ  ha^  been  prolonge.l  even  to  our  own  day 

x'lim'ss  of  life  among  his  children.  ■ 


III 


w 


J> 


^  -       ■  '  IPI 

54.  Concluding:  Remarks  on  the  History  of 
Monastic  Life.  * 


And    1    l.clicltl  :  ami    I( 


>,  t\  linuli,"  .IcMUM. 


>ii.  1111(1  with  liim  )i  liuiulnMl  and  foiiy  four  II 


81. 

i>!im(\  ami  lUc  mum'  of  hi.s  Fiithcr  wrill 
linn  siui,^;.  as  it    woiv.  a  m>\v  oaiilirN-;  ami 
niiilicl<<.  iMil  tho.si'  liumlii'd  aitdl'orfy  lour  II 


flood  upon  Moutil 
touHKiid  liiiviug  hi.s 
Ami 


vn  oil  llii'lr  forclictttlN. 


«'lias,-,l  iroiu  iho  rarlh^.  ^llu<  first  frulLs  to  (Jod  and  lo  llu,  J 


A I 


0«  Al.Yl'SK  Xiv,    1   ,f  s,,/. 


no  man  could  say  llic 
louHund,  who  \v(M(<  jiur- 
,aiul)." — 


('()NCUri)|N(j  UKM^VUKM  OIV  MONAHTIO  Mkk.      iHf) 

Finally,  in.pui-liuj  liinlory  hhhiuth  m  thufc  iho  Kmilcr 
I'art  ,.f  lluw,  (.(.n.pluinlH,  iimiU*  u;r„i„H|,  i,„MiuHt..ri,.H  it. 
moHl,  mH,.H  by  11,0  oi.(..ni(.H  ol'  nil  rcliKJ....,  wcro  f..„M.l(Ml 
«Mi  n.Hlico,  f,.,lHoli....(|,  u.kI  ignomn,!.'.  Arn.,Mg  i  li,,  worMly- 
"""•''"'  <!'<"•<'  pn'VH.lH,  UH  S(.  Pm,„1  n.sHtin,H  i.h,  -  vuiu^u- 
l>iH<'ciu-(M,f  M„,  ,.v,,H,  ,:„n„u,,im!oiic„  of  M,,,  fl,,„|,,  ,i,„|  ,,,(^ 
PM(I(!  ,»f  lif,..  Hiul  (loHiro  ofUmk'  own  will."  I,,  (I,,,  lif,.  „f 
H  <n,o  n-l.g,<,„.s  Iho  op|..,si|Prtuf8  aro  Hcruj^ulouHly  nmo 

•     Tl...s(.  vir(,,H.,s  u,,  v..l„„(,ury  ,,„v,.r(,y,  vir^i.uil  cluiHiit.y, 
'oly  (.ln-<l>c>.i,r;    ,„    oiUvv  wonl.s,  (l.o   perfcclion   of  Josus 
(^l.riHl..      il(.Mco  (Ih,  worldling.,  if  inw,  u,  their  inini  Iuh- 
loiT.  ninsi,  hal<,  m.hI  pcrsorulo  th„  rcligiouH  Onh^rn   for  in 
"'*'"^  *'^^'''"''"'  ''"'  lif'"  of  Christ.      "Tho  world  will  hate 
.yon.  iHTunso  It  Indh   lirst  hul..l  rnc,"  wu.  tho  Hignificunt 
l"-o.nKso  of   Christ   lo   his   f<,ll„worH.      Tho   world   cannot 
H'hcvo  in  disintoivsl.'d  horoicvirtno,  hcawis.,  iMn.H  never 
known  tlu.  H.ip.M-natnml  p„w,T  of  tli(.s(,  means  l,y  which 
virluo  IS  nc.pnrcd  and  s(>ciircly  n.ainlainc<l;  has  ccrtninly 
novcr  had  any  p(.rs.Mial  practical  cxpcri,.nco  of  the  t-nicacy 
of  (ho«o  aids  I,)  virtnc,  the  word  of  (mhI,  the  Sacnunonts, 
'"'•^'l''^'    pnty.M-,   sanctifying  grace.      Ilenco,  basing  thoir 
1"'^''^;'"1<'<I  .iu.lg.uont  on   their  «Wn   experience,  -on   their 
own  interior  life,  worldlings  alfec^t  to  disbelieve  the  exist- 
^■".•e  i.f  virtue   in  the  lives  of  the  religiouH,  wul  accuse 
<lH'm   of  deception   and  hypocrisy.     The  worldling  feels 
acutely  that  th(>  voluntary  i)overty  of  the  monk,  the  solf- 
^acri(ice.of  the  missionary,  the   heroic  virtue  of  the  Sis- 
tor  of  (^luirity,  is  a  reproach  and  a   rebuke  to  his  selfish 
indolence;  and   hence  he  would  gladly  rid  himself  of  the 
presence  of  so   |)ersistent  a  monifor.  "  Frivolous  ridicule 
or  malicious  calumny,  abuse  of  the  rules  of  the  Orders 
or  reviling  of  (he  mem))ers,  unfair  legislation,  and  even 
oi)en  violence,  liavo  been  made  use  of  by  the  enemy,  in 
tlie    hope    to    destroy  thosa  institutions  of  the   Catholic 
Church. 


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186 


CHKIST   IN    ms   CIIUKCH. 


But  we  must  not  be  deluded  aiid  led  astray  by  the  false 
opinions  and  malicious  objections  and  fault-tindings  of  the 
worldling.     Though  we  may  see  the  unfaithful  member  of 
a  religious  Order  prove  false  to  his  vows,  leave  his  commu'- 
^itjj.fPd  even  lose  his, faith  and  i)reach  heresy,  we  simply 
pity  him,  while  we  say  to  ourselves,  "One  traitq*. less  in 
the  camp,  one  coward  less  in  the  army  of  Christ."     Let 
us  rejoice,  theU)  in  our  Saviour,  and  in  the  manner  in. 
which  his  life  has  been  continued  in  the  religious  orders.' 
Let  us  await  patiently  and  cbnfidently  for  his  good  time, 
when  he  will,  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  the  enemy, 
renew  and  transplant  these  brightest,  fairest  flowers  of  his, 
Church  upon  earth  to  the  realms  of  everlasting  glory. 


--h:' 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SAINTS.' 


% 


CHEIST  LIVES  IN- HIS   CHCRCH    AS  THE   HOLY   ONE. 


55-  The  Martyr  Saints. 

ST.  STEPHEN. 

"  We~wlio  live  are  always  deliyet»pd  unto  death  for  Jesus'  sake- 
that  the  life  also  of  Jesus  mu^e  made  manifest  in  our  mortal 
nesh.  —2  CORINTHIANH  iv.   11. 

~\TOT  only  in  the  religions  Orders  of  the  Chnrch  does 
-^^    Christ  manifest  his  lioliness,  and  repeat  and  con- 
tinno  his  own  holy  life  npon  earth.     He  really  and  truly 
lives  also  in  the  holy  and  pure  souls  of  men  and  women  in 
all  conditions-of  human  society.     Proud  and  self-sufficient 
worldlings  choose  to  know  nothing  about  these  favorite 
servants  of  God,  the  Catholic  Saints.     To  the  worldly- 
^yIso,  all  pious  legend,  that  is  to  sav,  the  history  of  the 
hves,  virtues,  and  miracles  of  the  Saints  of  the  Church 
IS  something  too  despicable  or  trifling  for  their  serious  con- 
sideration.    For  they  hold  that  only  the  names  and  mem- 
•>nes  of  philosophers,  statesmen,  or-warriofs  are  fit  themes 
of  historical  study,  and  they  would  ignore  and  forgot  all 
others.  \ 

This  is  unjust.  Why,  the  fervent  and  persevering 
prayer  of  one  sinless  soul  before  the  throne  of  the 
it^'!!!?^'^.^.,  ^i^t  ^"'^!;:  '^'^'^^^^  tisofulness  of  a  good  man 


kr~ 


i 


\ 


188 


CHKIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


example  upon  his  fellow-men;  the  simple  words  of  heav- 
.enly  wisdom  that  fall  fron^  his  lips,  and  like  seed  blessed 
by  heaven,  sink  deep  into  the  hearts  of  many,  contribute 
more  certainly  and  effectively  to  the  advantage  of  human- 
ity, and  to  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  than  the  blood- 
stained victories  of  the  conqueror,  or  the  noisy  words  of 
the  haughty  orator  or  statesman.  -    ^        ,, 

Therefore,  the  Christian  opens  frequently  the  eyes  of 
his  soul  and  looks  upward  with  joy  upon  that  spiritual  fir- 
mament, wher^  according  to  St.  Paul's  own  testimony, 
the.  Saints  of  Christ's  Church  shine  like  brilliant  stars, 
rivalling  each  other  in  beauty,  powerTand  glory.  Let  us 
cast  a  glance  also  6ver  this  earth  of  ours,  view  the  varied 
conditions  and  circumstances  of  human  life,  and  then 
jejoice  in  the  fulness  of  our  hearts  at  the  grand  display 
of  holiness,  and  purity  which  Christ  is  pleased  to  make 
practically  manifest  in  the  lives  of  his  Saints  upon  earth. 

First  of  all,  our  gaze  wijl  alight  u})on  that  glorious 
army  of  martyrs,  whose  brows  are -docked  with  the  laurel 
of  victory,  and  whose  garments  are  dyed  crimson  in  their 
own  blood.  These  Saints  have  received,  and  cherished^  "' 
and  reduced  to  painful  practice  the  words  of  their  Lord, 
and  Saviour:  "  Greater  love  than  this  no  man  hath,  that  a 
man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends."  As  Christ  had  laid . 
down  his  divinely  precious  life  for  them,  they  found  it  easy, 
and  esteemed  it  but  a  poor  return,  to  deliver  thprnselvos 
freely  up  to  death,  and  to  the  martyr's  death,  and  to  seal 
with  their  life's  blood  not  only  tlie  eternal  truth  of  Ilis 
doctrine,  but  also  the  intensity  of  their  own  disinterested 
love.  What  a  glorious  testimony  in  favor  of  Christian 
truth  1  If  in  the  comparatively  short  period  of  the  first 
three  centuries  in  the  Church,  more  than  three  millions 
of  the  purest  and  noblest  of  persons  go  cheerfully  to  death 
in  defence  of  this  truth;  to  death  amid  the  most  excru- 
ciating tortures;  to  a  death  unattended  by  world-honor  or 


• 


^ 


THE   MAKTYIJ   HAINT8. 


189 


quil  hearts,  and  blessing  their  very  executioners— who,  in 
his  sound  mind,  could  longer  question  the  truth  of  Chrigt? 
And  if  within  the  hearts  of  these  three  millions  of  victims 
to  the  truth  and  cause  tff  Christ,  the  love  for  Christ  burned 
so  intensely  as  to  be  able  to  con(|uer  all  fear  of  the  most 
painful  and  disgraceful  of  martyrs'  deaths,  who  would  or 
could  refuse  to  pay  his  respect  to  this  celestial  ardor  of 
self-sacrificing   love  ?     Hence   the  early   Christians  ven- 


Martynlom  of  St.  Stephen. 


orated  with  a  tender  love  even  the  very  bones  of  their 
niartyred  brethren.  Hence,  too,  the  true  and  fervent 
Catholic  to-day  loves  to  possess  some  of  these  precious 
relics,  to  venerate  tliem  as  he  remembers  with  pious  awo 
and  satisfaction  that  those  relics  were  onco  animated  by  a 
groat,  Ood-lovijig.  and  heroic  soul. 

The  Church  honors  as  the  first  in  the  ranks  of  these 
('hampiQn8,^4^4w^  iattrtyi--8t.  ^Stcphgn.    ^B^tras  oMeT 


iM 


!  14 


■■il 


v 


..^^ 


190 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


I 


-^  among  tho^e  seven  deacons  chosen  to  assist  the  holy  Apos- 
■  ^s;  a  mi*1i-of  strong  fuijji  and  fall  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
"working;,wonders  and  great  signs  among  the  people.  The 
Jews,  chilling  nndcr  his  severe  and  truthful  rebukes, 
drugged,  him  before  t)ie  high  council,  and  produced  false 
witnesses,  who  stated:  "This  man  ceaseth  not  to  speak 
words  against  the  holy  i)lace  and  the  law."  But  all  who 
were  in  the  court-room  looked  with  astonishment  upon 
the  youthful  deacon,  for  his  face  shone  in  beauty  like 
that  of  an  angel.  It  was.  before  this  assembly  that  the 
inspired  deacon  delivered  that  eloquent  and  scathing  dis- 
course to  the  Jews,  as  given  by  St.  Luke  in  his  "Acta  of 
the  Apostles"  [vii.  2-53].  Ilis  guilty  audience .  fairly 
raved  with  anger,  and  gnashed  their  teeth  at  him  in 
their  fury.  But  Stephen,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  direct|ed 
his  eyes  towards  heaven,  whore,  being  jiermitted  to  see  the 
.  glory  of  God,  and  Jemis  standing  at  the  right  hand  of  his 
Fathe^  ho  exclaiili^f^:  '.'  Behold,  I  see  the  heavens  opened,, 
and  the  Son  of  Man  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God." 
At  these  words  his  oneniios  fjiirly  shrieked  with  rage, 
stopped  their  cars,  and  then  rushed  violently  u])on  him. 
They  dragged  him  out  of  the  city,  took  off  their  outer 
garments,  which  they  laid  at  the  feet  of  a  young  man 
"  named.  Saul,*  and  then  stmied  Hicir  victim  to  death. 
But.  Stephen,  offering  no  resistance,  continued  to  look 
towards  heaven  and  to  rei)eat:  '*  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my 
spirit."  On  bended  knees  and  with  clasped  hands,  he  at 
last  cried  out,  as  his  soul  was  about  to  depart,  "Lord,  lay 
not  this  sin  to  their  charge."  Having  said  these  words, 
he  fell  asleej)  in  the  Lord.  Thus  died  the  first  of  our 
Christian  martyrs;  a  model  of  burning  zeal  for  the  truth 
_  of  Christ,  and  of  compassionate  charity  for  evil-doers. 

*  This  Saul,  who  wiii^ft  willing  witness  to  the  death  of  St.  Ste- 
phen, afterwards  l)ecame  St.  Paul,  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles, 
.     and  gave  his  life  iu  defence  of  that  same  truth  for  which  Stephen 
— TCttctt:-- -" - 


\ 

HISTORY    OF   TIID   BISHOPS.  191 

p 

^j^  "  56.  History  of  the  Bishops. 

ST.    CHARU:s   BORROMEO. 

-J 

. ''  God  made  to  liim  a  covenant  of  peace  to  be  the  prince  of  his 
people,  that  tlie  dignity  of  priesthood  should  be  to  him  and  to  his 
Seed  forever."— Ecci.EsiASTicus  xlv.  30. 

Side  by  side  with  the  holy  martyrs,  we  see,  standing 
..m  the  temple  of  heaven,  those  glorious  Saints  who  were 
once  the  worthy  and  faithful  representatives,  in  the  Chris- 
tian tem])les  on  earth,  of  the  great  and  veritable  High 
Priest,  Jesus  Chri.st.     These  are   our  learned   and  holy 
bishops.     Who  can  tell  the  names  of  all  these  anointed 
of  the  Lord,  who,  while  on  earth,  wielded  the  sacred  cro- 
sier with  unswerving  fi(h'lity  a^nid  trials  and  afflictions; 
but  who  are  npw  enjoying  everlasting  reposb  from  theV.^ 
labors  in  tlie  company  of  the   Good  Shepherd  himself?  ^ 
Some  distiiiguislied  tliemselves  in  their  earthly  careers  by 
their  suhlime  wisdom,  others  by  their  indomiXable  cour- 
age in  the  contest  for  truth  and  justice;some  we're  remark- 
able for  their  child-like  modesty  in  prosperity  and  success, 
others  by  their  calm  resignation  in  trial  and  persecution. 
All  shone  resplendent  Ip:  the  holiness  of  their  lives,  and 
the   tuthful    discharge   oiV  tiieir   duties   as-shepherds  of 
Christ's   flock.     Every  land    and    every  age   hjus  had    its 
holy  bishops,  and   in  mochu-n   times  the  saintly  Cardinal 
of  .A[ilan,  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  stands  forth  among  the 
greatest  of  the.'^e  successors  of  the  Apostles. 

In  the  government  of  his  diocese,  this  holy  bishop 
never  lost  sight  of  the  briglit  iiud  edifying  example  of  his 
illustrious,  predecessor,  the  learned  doctor  and  exemplary 
bishop,  St.  Ambrose.  He  endeavored  constantly  to  find 
out  the  wants,  necessities  and  abuses  of  his  di(^cese,  and 
immediately,  und  prudently,  and  effectively  (o  remedy  - 
them.     For  thi.si  nnmnan  hn  avail 


i  1*1 

!•     t '  I 


rposo 


self  spepially  of 


noirrcrcfices  and  syiio^;  that  is,  the  united  cmniselsofhis 


n' 


192 


gHKlST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


clergy  and  suffragan  bishops.  While  listening  in  humble 
modesty  and  deference  to  the  advice  and  suggestions  of 
the  aged  and  experienced,  he  knew  How,  by  his  magna- 
nimity and  ardent^jzeal  for  souls,  to  gain  the  unlimited 
confidence  of  his  fellow-labcwd-s,  and  to  enkindle  in  their 
hearts  the  fire  of  apostolic  charity  and  zeal.  His  own 
vast  resources,  as  well  as  the  revenues  of  the  Church,  'he^ 
employed  almost  exclusively  to  the  requirements  of  God's 
Church.     Well-attended  seminaries  for  the  proper  train- 


St.  Charles  Borromeo. 

ing  and  education  of  efficient  carers  of  souls,  several  asy- 
fums  for  ori)hans,  iind  hospitals  for  tlie  sick  and  needy, 
were  only  a  jjortion  of  his  work.  Tie  himself  lived  so 
sparingly,  that  on  one  occasion,  having  returned  home  at 
evening  sick  and  weary,  after  having  attended  during  tlie 
entire  day  in  a  j)ul)lic  hosi)itiiljii  Milan,  consoling  the  vic- 
tims of  a  c()ntagious  epidemic,  he  had  neither  bread  nor 
money  to  buy  it. 
=- — j^ven  the  litnitft  ^  4tis  own  diocese  Vfev&  4oo  caniracted-^^ 


HISTORY   OF   THE   BISHOPS. 


103 


for  the  generous  zeal  of  this  Apostle,  and  all  Italy  and  even 
the  wild  mountain  recesses  of   Switzerland   became  the 
_  scene,  of  his  labors.     He  nuide  pilgrimages  on  foot  to  the 
most  remote  mountain  districts,  going  from  cottage  to 
cottage,  strengthening  the  inhabitants  in  the  faith  of  their 
forefathers,  warning  them  aguinst  the  errors  of  that  age, 
and   consoling  them  in  their   trials  aild  afflictions.     .  By 
founding  houses  for  the  Jesuits  and  Capuchins,  he  pro- 
vided religious  consolation  and  instruction  for  the  masses 
of  the  people;  so  th^t  the  interior  districts  of  Switzerland 
escaped  falling  into  Protestantism,  and  were  thus  indebted 
to  him  for  the  preservation  of  their  ancient  faith  and  God- 
worship.     Ilis  vast  and  multiplied  correspondence  by  letter 
with  the  bishops  of  various  districts,  with  the  heads  of 
religious  Orders,  and  with  the  reigning  princes  of  his  time, 
had  no  other  object  in  view  than  to  encourage  and  strength- 
en them  by  advice  and  exhortation  to  be  true  and  loyal 
to  the  Church. 

Above  all  was  he  obedient  and  loving  towards  Eome, 
which  lie  knew  to  be  tlie  centre  of  Christian  faith  and 
unity.  /Tlie  cliair  of  St.  Tetor  was  at  that  time  worthily 
filled  by  his  ilhistrious  uncle,  P()i)e  Pius  IV.     This  Pon- 
tiff, soon  learning  to  appreciate  the  learning  and  sanctity 
of  liis  nepliew,  allowed  iiim  consi'derable  influence  in  the 
government  of  the  univorsnl  Church.     The  most  impor- 
tant work  of  that  period  was  the  successful  finisliing  and 
closing  of  the  General  Council  of  Trent,  in  which  tlie  wise 
and  prudent  arch])isho])  of  Milan  took  an  active  and  sue 
cossfnl   part.       Tims  <lid   our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus   Christ  raise  up,    in  those  dangerous  years   of  the 
so-c^illed  Reformation,  his  faithful  servant  St.  Charles,  to  be 
a  pillar  of  strength  in  liis  perseeuted  Church,  and  a  shiji- 
ng  example  of  fidelity  to  all  future  bishoi)s.     He  died  in 


tlie  odor  of 


forty-sixth  year  of  his  age 


Hictity  on  the  3d  of  November,  1584,  in  the 


M 


J 


f^"*" 


xy'%- 


If 


194 


^ 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CIl-URCH. 

57.  History  of  the  Priesthood. 

ST.  JOHN   NEPOMUCENE, 


"  The  Priests  shall  enter  i«to  i^iy  sauctuary,  and  they  shall  come 
near  to  my  fable  to  ministei^nto  me,  and  to  keep  my  ceremonies.'" 

— EZKCHLEL  Xliv.  16. 


vm 


Next  to  the  glorious  army  of  holy  bishops  in  heaven, 
stand  the  countless  rank  and  file  of  their  fellow  warriors, 
the  holy  i)riests  of  the  Church.  "'To  these  was  intrusted 
upon  earth  the  keeping  of  the  sacred  body  of  their  Lord, 
though  in  a  mysterious  manner,  and  concealed  beneath 
the  sacramental  veil.  Faithfully  and  reverently  they 
guarded  the  priceless  treasure,  offering  it  up  as  a  perfect 
victim  in  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  mass,  dispensing  it 
faithfully  and  with  priestly  joy  to  the  believing  multi- 
tudes. But  now  the  sacramental  veil  is  removed  from 
before  their  eyes,  and  they  gaze  with  rapture  on  the  glo- 
rified body  of  that  Lord,  whose  merest  glance  on  Tabor 
entranced  the  three  favorite  Apostles.  To  the  priests,  too, 
while  upon  earth,  was  intrusted  the  duty  and  power  of 
pronouncing  over  the  repentant  sinner  the  consoling 
words  of  absolution.  Zealously  they  corresponded;  re- 
calling wayward  sinners  to  the  ways  of  virtue,  ISosening 
them"  from  their  sins,  and  like  true  and  faithful  shepherds, 
leading  them  back  to  the  fold  of  Christ.  Now  these  faith- 
ful priests  of  the  Church  unite  their  voices  with  those  of 
their  converted  souls  in  singing  for  all  eternity  the  praises 
of  their  Redeemer.  In  those  shining  fields,  no  temptation 
can  now  assail  them,  no  shadow  of  danger  cast  a  mo- 
ment's gloom  upon  their  regenerated  souls.  All  is  peace 
and  rest  for  all  eternity. 

In  this  gi-and  army  of  priests  we  discover,  among 
others,  that  heroic  confessor  and  martyr,  whom  all  Chris- 
tendom has  honored  for  the  last  five  hundred  years  as  the 
champion  and  martyr  of  the  secrecy  of  the  confessional, 


THE   SAINTLY    IIEKMITri. 


195 


the  glorious  St.  John  Nepomuceiie  of  Bohemia.     Having  ^ 
been  cliosen  by  Queen  Soi)hiu  for  lier  confessoi",  her  hus- 
biind,  King  Wcnceslas  IV.,  iictuuted  by  a  wicked  curi- 
osity, had  the  presumi)tion  to  ai.])roaeli  tlie  Saint  with  a 
view  of  extracting  from  liini  tJie  subject  o^  liis  wife'^  con- 
fession.    St.   John  was  sliocked  at  the  Avicked  presuni])- 
tion  of  the  King,  and  replied  boldly  that  he  would  die 
rather  than  violate  the  secrecy  of  tho*sacred  tribunal  by 
^revealing  a  syllable  of  the  Queen's  confession.     Furious 
"at  his  discomfiture,    the   wicked    King  had    the    Saint 
stretched  upon  the  rack,  and  as  neither  threats  nor  prom- 
ises would  induce  him  to  yield  to  the  tyrant's  unreason- 
able demand,   St.  John  Nepomuccnc  was  thrown  from  a 
bridge  into  the  river  Moldau,  on  the  night  of  the  20th  of 
March,  1393.     Immediately  the  river  became  brightly  illu- 
minated, and  the  dead  body  of  the  Martyr  of  the  Confes- 
sional was  brought  to  f^Jiore,  carried  amid  the  tears  and 
sobs  of  the  i)eople  to  the  Cathedral,  where  it  was  buried 
with  great  solemnity.     Tliree  hundred  years  later,  on  the 
15th  of  April,  1719,   tlie  Saint's  grave  was  opened,  and 
the  tongue  was  found  to  be  moist,  fresh,  and  untainted.  ^ 
He  has  ever  been  and  will  continue  to  be  the  patron  saint 
of  our  father^confessors,  and  tlio  guardian  of  their  eternal 
secrecy  of  the  Confessional. 


58.  The  Saintly  Hermits. 


ST.    P^AUL    OF   THEBES. 

4 

"Behold  I  will  allure  her,  and  lead  her  ihto  the  wilderness:  and 
I  will  speak  to  her  heart."— Usee  ii   14 

\ 

Turn  we  now  from  those  to  whom  was  intrusted  the 
offering  of  the  Sacrifice  of  the  new  law,  to  the  holy  her- 
mits of  the  Church.  These  riien,  buried  in  the  solitary 
Z^I^e^Sj  offered  sacrifice_ol43raycr  and  mortificatioT^4;Q- 


I  *  i 


•.  f 


m 


fi^ 


^ 


196 


CHEIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


their  imm9rtal  Lord  and  muster,  Jesus  CJirist.  Following 
the  mysterious  impulses  of  his  heart,  or  rather  obeying 
the  call  of  diviue, grace,,  the  solitary  hermit,  while  abaii- < 
doning  the  woi-ld  with  all  its  pleasures, 'also  escapes  its 
harrowing.tind  exhausting  distractions.  Wherever  a'-sweet 
fountain  springs  from  the  rock,  or  a-  sheltering  cave  sup-' 
plies  a  roof^  or  a  few  herbs  furnish  a  scanty  means  of  sub- 

-.  sistence,  tjiere  we  find,  the  hermit  settling  himself  doWn  to 
lead  a  X\i€  of  tranquil  vil-tue  and  holiness.  Alid  whilst- 
his  hands  arc  busy  in  useful  industry,  his  heart  is  en- 
gaged it  fervenU -contemplation  of  the  goodness,  mercies, 
and  justice  of  his  Creator.  Although  living-  apart  from 
friends  and  kindred)  still  he  remembers  their  difficulties, 
trials,  and  afflictions  anyd  the  busy  throng  of  men,  and 
•  offers  his  sacrifice  of  a  lonely  life,  of  prayer,  auji  of  self- 
denial,  for  their  spiritual  and  temj)orfil  relief  and  advance- 
ment. These  latter,  also,  sometimes  make  pilgrimages  to 
the  lonely  retreat  o|  the  recluse,  there  to  listen  with  com- 
fort and  ,  edification  to  his  wise  teachings,  salutary  coun- 
sel^ and  consoling  exhortations.  Worldlings  may  mock 
auOTcondemn  the  eccentricities  of  the  man. who  has  loved 
Christ  .more  than  the  .world,  but  they  forget  that  many 
a  piousKrecluse,  ever  since  the  days  of  John  tlie  Baptist, 
has  rendered  more' real  servicei  to  society  by  his  prayers 
and  mortification  of  the  sensual  appetites,  than  has  been 
obtained  by  the  elo.quent  words  of  the  learned,,  or  the  rest- 
'less  sword  of  the  conquering  slaughterer  of  his  fellowraen. 

The  most  renowned  among  the  holy  hermits  of  4;he 
Church  \Yas  St.  Paul  of  Egypt,  born  in  the  year  227. 
During  the  persecution  of  the  Emperor  Decius,  this  de- 
vout and  highl||educated  youth  fled  to  the  desert,  wl^ere 
he  passed  ninety  years  witliout  meeting  a  fellow-man. 
For  the  first  twenty  /ears,,  his  subsistence  consisted  of  the 
fruit  of  a  palm-tree   and  the  water- of  a  brook  which 

'     flowed  in  front  of  his  "hermitage.     During  the  last  seventy 


*  . 


THE   SAINTLY   HERMITS. 


197 


.  old  in  the  desert,  a  mven  bearing  a -half  barley  loaf. 

■  VVheiL  Paul  was  113  years  old,  another  holy  hermit,^  St. 
Antony,* directed  by  God,  an^d  being  himself  then  ninety 
years  of  ^^,  ciime  to  visit  this  venerable  j-ecluse.  These 
tw(5  holy  men,  enlightuied  by  .heaven,  recognized  each 
otlftr  dt  once,  saluted  each  other  by  name  at  the  first 
pioment  of  their  -meeeing,  fell  upon  each  other's  neck  in  ' 
tender  embrace,  and^thankcd  j>hd  praised,  the  Lord,  a' 
sacred  soKdfrieiidsftTp  was  at  once  foi'm^ed  betweeif  them/ 

•,  While  they  were  conversing,  a  raven  flew  down  and  dropped 
a  whole  loaf  of  brej^d   before  the  two  saints.     Paul  said      • 
smiling:  -  Behold  how  goo^tlie  Lord  is!    During  sixtf\ 
years  l^o  has  sent  me,  in  this  way,  a  half  loaf  of  bread  every  ^ 
day.    But  now,  whon  you  have  come  to  see  me;  Christ  has 
doubled  the  pay.of  ;his  servants."     thev  ate   together, 
drank  from  the  spring,  and  gave  thanks  to  God.     On  the 
following  morning,  after  a  nigiit  spent  together  in  prayer     ' 

■  and  pious  meditation,  Pau^informed  S^  Antony  that  his" 
life  was  abpiit  to  close,  and  requested  him  to' go  and  bring     ' 
for  his  shroud  a  certain  cloak  which  tl^bishop  A(],;inasius 
had  some  time  previous  given  to  him.     Antony  obeyed, 
and  on  his  r^urn  with.tha  mantle,  found  St.  Paul  in  a 
kneeling  posture,   witj(  head    bowed   dDWn   and  clasped 
hands,    apparently  absorbed    in   silent  ]irayei>r     But  the 
soul  of  Paul  had  fled  while  he  prayed,  and  he  was  now 
asleep  in  the  Lord.     Hardly  had  St.  Antony  enveloped 
the  venerable  remains  of  his  friend  in  the^  mantle  of  the 
holy  bishop,  when  two  strong  lions  ai>i)roachcd'  with,  gen-       ' 
tie  mien,  and  at  once  began  to  'dig'witli  their  paws  a  last 
restmg-place  for"  the  body  of  St.  Paul.     St.  Antony,  after 
placing  the  remains  in  the  grave,  and  having  sm^oothed 
the  last)i!od,  hastened  back  to-liisjhionastery  to  relate?  these      ^ 
miraculous  events  to -his  w<)nderilig  disciples. 

^  It  is  thus  that  the  deatlTof  this  great' servanTof  ^od  is 
descjjibed  by  one^of  'the  most  credfble  authorities,  namely, 
St.  (Terome,  Doctor  in  the  Church.  ^'^ 


198 


CHKIST   l-S   JI18   CHURCH, 


59.  The  Royad  Saints. 


TH  E    EMPEROR    HENRY,    II, 


V 


\.*ith: 


t 


And  now,,0  ye  kings,  understand,  receive  instructions,  serve 

rejoice  unto  liim  with  trembling." — 


ye  the  Lord  with  fear,  and 
Psalm  ii.  11. 


The  infaiit  Jesus,  besides  inviting  to  his  crib  at  Bethle- 
hem the  plain  and  sim})le  shcj)hcrds  of  Bethleliem,  sii-m-^ 
moned  also  to  his  service  and  honuige  three  rich  and 
powerful  kings  from  Eastoi-n  lands.  And  the  Saviour's 
invitation  has  in  all  ages  been  directed,  not  alone  to  sinii)le 
hermits  and  jjious  priests,  but  also  to  the  great  ones  of  the 
earth.    'Jesus  Christ  has  been  ])leused   to  live,  to  act  out 

-  his  life,^  in  the  lives  of  many  kiligs  and  ])rinccs.     How 
edifying  to  society,  how  conducive   to  the  si)iritual  and 

^temporal  well-beingof  mankind,  for  the  head  of  the  nation 
to  take  the  lead  in  reducing  to  i)ractice  b(*th  in  his  public 
and  private  life  the  maxims  of  Christianitv!  IIow  brisfht 
and  honorable  the  crown  of  authority,  wheA  worn  on  a 
truly  Christian  brow!  lIow  sorvifoal)le  and  digniiled  tlio 
royal  sceptre  when  wielded  by  hands  unstained  with  i)l()od, 
by  hands  ever  busy  in  imjiroving  tlic  condition  of  those 
committed  to  their  care.  lIow  stately  the  regid  ermine 
when  covering  the  form  of  one  subniissive  and  docile  to 
the  teachings  of  Chris-f.  Honor  an^  praise  arc  due  to  such 
.  wise,  humble,  and  just  rulers:  to  the  saintly  Ladislas, 
Stephen,  and  Emeuil  of  Hungary;  to  the  jjioua  Henry, 
emperor  of  Germany;  to  the  devout  Edward  (if  Engl.ind; 
to  the  religious  Ferdnumd  of  Spain;  to  tlie  holy  Ciuntnim 
of  Burgi»5^dy;  to  the  just  Canute  of  Denmark;  to  Saint 
Wenceslas  of  Bohemia.  St.  Leopold  of  Austria,  and  St. 
Louis  of  Fnulice.  H»Mior  and  praise  to  these  princely 
patrons  of  the  Church;  they  were  fathers  to  their  people, 
and  bright  exainj>lea  of  every  n(tl)le  virtue.         4 

Jji  jlndjinj;  tiifLliffLQf  iJve  moHJ  glm-joua  ^  all  Cha-ktm&.- 


■~^ 


THE   nOYA^   SAINTS. 


199 


rulers,  of  the  saintly  emperor,  Henry  the  Second,  we  shall 
discover  how  princely  wisdom  is  reconcihible  with  Chris- 
tian simplicity,  royal  majesty  with  Christian  lii^niility,  and 


dignified  valor  with  Christi 


W( 


all  observe 

what  a  torrent  of  heavenly  blessijigs  are  poured  out  upon 
Church  and  State,  when  tlieso  virtues  are  found  to  exist 
in  the  soul  of  a  civil  ruler. 

The  foundation  of   Christian  perfection  was -laid   by 
pious  parents,  at  an  early  age,  in  the  heart  of  St.  Henry, 


The  Emperor  Henry  IL 

and  the  subsequent  etructuro  of  piety  and  sanctity  was 
roared  by  the  skilled  and  careful  hands  of  St.  Wolfgang, 
bishop  of  Rogensburg.  St.  Henry's  esimusals  with  St.' 
C'uncgunda,  and  lus  constant  and  familiar  intercourse  with 
great  and  good  num,  crowiu'd  his  whole  earthly  career  with 
a  bright  halo  of  holtness  and  wisdom.  All  through  life  his 
motto  was,  "Not  unto  me,  but  to  God's  name  be  praise 
and  glory  given:   let   everything   be  done  for  God   mk 


ttmmgraoa.^  THrtOinpTo  ofthe  Lord  was  his  happiest 


'Hj 


200 


CHRIST   IT^   HIS   CHURCH. 


I 


\  dwelling-place,  and  its  embellishment  was  his  chief  and 

favorite  care.  Of  this  trait  in  his  character,  testimoiiy  is 
given  by  the  many  sumptuous  churches  that  he  built,  or 
repaired  and  renovated.  On  the  occasion  of  his  coronation 
by  the  Pope,  in  the  city  of  Rome,  in  1014,  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff  Benedict  the  Eighth,  solemnly  jisked  him:  **  Wilt 
thou  be  a  firm  and  constant  protector  of  the  holy  Roman 
Church?"  St.  Henry  pledged  himself  to  the  Pope;  and 
ever  afterwards  was  so  true  to  his  promise  that  a  pious 
historian  observes:.  *' That  fraternal  embrace  between  the 
Supreme  Ruler  of  the.  Church  and  the  highest  potentate  of 
the  world,  must  necessarily  have  contributed  immensely  to 
tiie  happiness  of  mankind."  The  bishoprics  of  "Bamberg, 
Hildesheim,  Magdeburg,  Meissen,  Merseburg,  and  Basel, 
which  were  either  erected  by  him  as  new  sees,  or  restored 
from  poverty  and  decay,  were  by  his  special  direct?ion> 
endowed  with  princely  munificence.  He  restored  to  their 
ancient  vigor  a,nd  discipline,  to  their  former  temporal  and 
spiritual  prosperity,  many  neglected  monjisteries.  For 
this  purpose,  he  introduced  fervent  and  learned  monks 
from  the  renowned  monastery  of  Chmy.  He  sent  several 
zealous  missionaries  to  Bohemia  and  Poland',  in  order  to 
confirm  and  extend  the  influence  of  Christianity  in  those 
countries.  How  ami)ly  repaid  for  all  these  generous  acts 
the  saintly  emperor  must  have  considered  himself,  when  in 
the  year  lO'^O,  liis  jlhistrious  friend  and  Admirer,  Pope 
Benedict  the  Eighili,  in  response  to  Henry's  invitation, 
came  in  state  to  BanibOTg  to  pass  the  Easter  with  him,  and 
to  consecrate  the  newly-erected  church  of  St.  Stephen! 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  works,  St.  H^nry  never  lost 
sight  for  a  moment  of  the  building  up.  in  his  own  heart, 
of  a  glorious  nnd  lasting  temple  of  ijnvard  sanctification. 
By  prayer,  meditation,  mortification,  and  pious  counsels' 
he  maintained  that  wonderful  control  over  himself  which 
enabled  him  to  live,  till  the  hour  of  his  death,  in  a  state  of 
.  vjdrgmity  wiik  hi&  saintly  «psuse  aad  quecn^     ilcnco  4ba 


V    I- 

THE    ROYAL    SAINTS. 


201 


could  say  when  dying,  us  he  commended  his  queen  to  her 
friends  and  relatives:  **I  received  her  a  virgin;  I  give  her 
back  to  you  the  same  unsullied  virgin." 

It  might  be  objected  by  some,  that  to  such  a  pious  man 
the  garb  of  a  monk  would  be  more  becoming  than  the  scep- 
tre of  a  monarch.  We  must  not  suppose,  that  on  account 
of  his  devotion  to  religion,  he  neglected  to  maintain  the 
dignity  of  his  realm  or  to  care  for  the  worldly  2)rosperity  of 
his  country.  Even  secular  historians  assure  us  that  his 
piety  never  stood  in  the  way  of  the  discharge  of  his  worldly 
duties.  At  the  time  when  he  ascended  the  throne,  power- 
ful enemies,  some  of  them  his  own  kindred,  rose  up  to 
oi)pose  him  and  his  administration.  St.  Henry,  fully  con- 
scious of  the  rigliteou.sncs.s  of  his  cause,  met  them  with  the. 
courage  of  a  soldier  and  succeeded  in  subduing  them. 
Harduin  of  Ivrea  sought  to  make  himself  king  of  Italy, 
but  St.  Henry's  sword  smote  liim  to  the  earth.  In  the 
western  portion  of  the  kingdom,  Prince  Boleslasof  Poland 
attemi)ted  to  rebel  against  his  emperor.  'J'he  two  o])])os- 
ing  armies  stood  face  to  face.  St.  Henry  with  all  his 
troops, tlirew  themselves  u})!)!!  their  knees,  and  together 
received  the  lUessed  Sacrament.  Thus  fortified,  they  soon 
won  an  easy  victory  over  the  forces  of  lioleslas.  Bv  means 
of  his  ([uiet,  prudent,  though  elVicient  statesmanship,  he 
succeeded  in  a.nnexing  to  Mu;  CJernian  empire  the  impor- 
tant kingdom  of  Burgundy.  Old  i)rejudices  estranged, 
from  each  other,  the  peoiile  of  Germany  and  of  France. 
St.  Henry  brought  about  the  fMnu)usand  interestin'Mueet- 
iiig  between  himself  and  King  PolxM-t  of  France,  at  Trois. 
Here  these  two  prinees  held  council  how  to  render  their 
people  happy  and  contented,  and  vowed  everlasting  friend- 
ship to  each  other.  A  universal  and  continued  peace  was 
agreed  upon,  and  law  and  justice  were  henceforth  to  re- 
place disorder  and  rai)ine.  An  old  chronicler  of  that  day 
fhussi)eaks  of  St.  Henry:  "All  Tuitions  of  the  (>arth  bow 


re]>u.- 


'■f 


i 


202 


CHRIST   IX    HIS   CHURCH. 


tation;  for,  by  the  assistanco  of  God,  he  has  triumphed 
over  all  other  princes.  The  Imsbundmaii  is  contented 
on  his  broad  acres,  the  ecclusiiustic  is  happy  in  his  sanc- 
tu||.ry.  Every  man  enjoys  tlie  blessings,  both  spiritual 
and  temi)oral,  vouchsafed  to  hiui  by  Cod;  and  under  the 
benign  sway  of  our  emperor  Henry,  tlie  poor  feel  them- 
selves rich." 

On  the  occasion  of  this  holy  emperor's  death,  which 
took  place  on  the  13th  of  July,  ,1024,  a  writer  of  the  time 
thus  expresses  himself:  "  The  flower  of  mankind,  the  glory 
^^f  kings,  tht5  pride  of  the  em])irc,  the  protector  of  God's 
/^Church,  the  peaceful  Chami)ion  of  Christendom,  our  em- 
peror Henry,  is  no  more. "  "" 
j^  To  this  saintly  prince  maybe  applied  the  words  of  Solo- 
mon: "■  I  have  prayed,  and  the  spirit  of  wisdom  came  upon 
me.  I  preferred  wisdom  to  riches  and  to  tbroncs,  and 
kingdoms  I  have  regarded  as  nothing  in  comi)arison  to 
wisdom.  More  than  heajth  and  beauty  hiive  I  loved  it. 
And  with  it  were  given  to  me  all  good  and  untold  hon- 
ors." 


6o.  The  Saintly  Workingmen. 

ST.    CRISPIN. 

"  The  foolish  things  of  tlio  WDild  iialli  0<i<l  chosen,  that  he  may 
confound  the  wise:  and  the  weak  tilings  of  4I1C  world  hath  God 
chosen,  that  he  may  confound  tlio  strong."—!  Couinthians  i.  27. 

Let  us  now  leave  the  glare  of  the  imi)erial  palace,  and 
enter  into  the  tranquil  i)recincts  of  the  house  of  God. 
What  a  epoctacle  greets  our  eyes  !  The  holy  table  of  tiio 
Lord  !  And  see  kneeling  around  it  the  great  aiul  the 
powerful.  They  are  not  alone,  for  intermingled  and  side 
by  side,  you  discover  the  poorest  and  most  lowly  of  their 
subjects.  They  are  all  ecjual  when  in  the  house  of  God, 
and  especially  when    kneeling  to  adore  cclcstuil.  never- 


THE   SAINTLY    WOKKINGMKN. 


20;] 


ending  royalty— tho  King  of  kings.  What  a  consoling 
and  satisfactory  solution  of  the  difficulty  concerning  the 
'■^equality  of  man,  may  be  witnessed  at  the  communion- 
table of  a  Catholic  church  !  .St;  Paul,  the  Apostle  of  the 
Gentiles,  exclaims:  "  Tiie  broad  which  Ave  break,  is  it  not 
the  partaking  of  the  body  of  tiie  Lord?  For  we  being  many, 
all  that  partake  of  one  bread  arc  one  body."  (1  Cor.  x.) 
That  is  to  say:  all  receive  eiiually  the  same  bread  of 
heaven,  the  same  Lord  and  Master,  Jesus  Christ.     Yes, 


Bt.  Crispin,  ftnd  his  brother  Crispinlan. 

Ciirist  lives  equally  in  all  men  of  good-will ;  manifesting  ^' 
his  holiness,  to  precisely  the  same  degree,  in  prince  and 
potentate,  as  in  tho  humblest  beggar.  For  wliat  is  gi-eat- 
noss,  or  what  is  lowliness  in  the  eyes  o*f  him  before  whom 
the  whole  eartli  with  all  its  vanity  is  but  as  a  grain  of 
sand  in  the  desert  ?  Did  ho  not  choose  to  be  born  in  a 
stable  and  to  pass  many  years  in  honorable  toil  and  lowly 
poverty?  Did  he  not  mingle  anu.ng  the  people,  raising 
Jwolye  8Jnu)]o Jlsliejinen  ia  4hti  Iwdvo  thr^tes  ef  hk  king^  -^ 


-  1 


204 


CHRIST   IN   ills   CHURCH. 


dom,  and  likening  liimself  to  a  farmer  and  a  shepherd  ? 
Hence  the  truly  Christian  laborer  is  cofisoled,  as,  in  the 
sweat  of  liis  brow  and  in  the  scorching  lieat  of  the  day,  he 
tills  the  field  of  his  employer.  Hence  the  contented  brow 
and  peaceful  heart  of  the  tradesman,  as  day  after  day,  and 
year  after  year,  he  labors  perseveringly  for  the  support  of 
his  family.  Perhaps  in  no  other  condition  of  life  do  we 
discover  more  easily  the  life  of  Christ  continued  and  acted 
out  in  his  .Church,  than  in  the  life  of  the  honest  son  or 
daughter  of  toil.-  .     . 

Among  the  many  saint**  of  lowly  condition,  honored  by 
the  church  is  St.  Crispin,  Avbo  has  ever  been  the  patron 
of  the  Christian  tradesman.  Distributing  all  his  goods 
to  the  poor,  he  went  with  his  brother  to  Gaul,  to  preach 
the  kingdom  of  Christ.  The  holy  brothers  took  up  their 
abode  at  Soissons,  whore  they  i)rcached  to  the  people 
during  the  day,  and  worked  at  manual  labor  the  best  part 
of  the  night.  Tiiey  made  shoes,  and  divided  the  proceeds 
of  their  labors  among  the  poor,  whom  th^ styled  their 
brethren  in  Christ.  An  accident  having  revealed  the 
nobility  of  their  origin,  many  of  the  wealthy  men,  very 
much  affected  at  the  disinterestedness  of  these  gentle 
strangers,  supi)lied  them  with  abundant  material  for  their 
pious  and  useful  undertaking.  These  two  noble  and  pious 
brothers  continued  to  reflect  honor  and  credit  \i]n)n  an 
industrious  avocatioii,  till  at  last,  in  the  year  287,  they 
received  the  crown  of  martydom. 


6i.  The   Saintly  Farmers  and  Shepherds. 

ST.    ISinOUE  AND    ST.    WENDKLIN. 

"  And  lie  chose    his  servant   David,  and  took  him  from  the 
flocks  ofslii^pp."— Psalm  Ixxvii.  70. 

In    St.  Isidore  of  Madrid  the  workingman  possesses  a 
model  and  a  patron.      In  St.  Wendelin  from  Scotland, 


THE   SAINTLY   FAKMEllS   AND   SHEPHERDS.      205 


the  pious  shepherd  honors  tlie  patron- of  liis  lowly  but 
honorable  occupation.  The  Church  recognizes  both  as 
illustrious  Saints  of  God.  Isidwe,  poor  and  unlettered,  but 
eager  to  relieve  his  struggling  parents  of  the  burden, of 
his  sui)port,  entered,  while  yet  a  boy,  the  service  of  a 
wealthy  man.  At  first  he  met  with  many  a  rebuke  for 
coming  late  to  work.  "  ILive  patience  with  me,"  he 
meekly  replied  to  his  exacting  master,  "and  yoii  will  see 
that  when  harvest  comes,  my  work  will  be  blessed  with 
abundant  fruft."  And  so  it  was  in  fact;  Avhcn  harvest 
came,  his  fields  surpassed  all  the  others  in  quantity  and 
quality.  For  Isidore  liad  utilized  the  first  hour  of  the 
day  in  repairing  to  church  and  hearing  mass.-  Durihg^eCi 
weary  hours  of  labor,  he  would  look  upon  nature  with  all' 
her  beauty  and  rich  and  bountiful  stores,  and  then  raise 
his  heart  in  contcntnVofit  and  joy  to  the  Author  of  all  this  , 
beauty  and  bounty.  Dwelling  npon  God's  wisdom,  power, 
and  providence,  St.  Isidore's  heart  and  soul  would  brim 
over  with  humility  and  gratitude.  He  made  use  of  the 
Sunday  to  fortify  himself  by  the  word  of  God  and  the 
Sacraments  for  the  labors  of  the  coming  week..  Out  of 
his  scanty  earnings,  he  found  means  to  help  those  po(5rer 
than  himself.  The  very  anmials  felt  the  infiuence  of  his 
gentleness  and  kindness.  God's  blessing,  too,  came  down 
abundantly  upon  liini,  and  u])on  all  his  undertakings.  At 
the  time  of  his  .dciith,  the  loth  of  Mav,  HTO,  his  counte- 
nance  emitted  a  heavenly  briglrtness,  so  that  those  standing 
about  his  death-bod  said,  in  subdued  wliispers,  "Truly 
this  is  the  death  of  a  Saint.'' 

Far  more  romantic  was  the  life  of  St.  Wendclin. 
De^C^ded  from  the  royal  family  of  Scotland,,  lie  was 
])Iaced  at  an  oiirly  age  under  the  si)iritiial  dire<'tion  and 
tuitiim  of  a  pious  and  learned  bishoj),  who  taught  him  all 
kinds  of  knowledge,  but  more  the  knowledge  of  heavenly 
things,  and  initiated  him  into  the  mysterious  ways  g»f 
44wistjan   kttmtltt^  HTid  ?f4f^lt*ntjti.       'iHre^  Ht>ly  €rho8t  - 


206 


CJIinST   IN   JUS   CHURCH. 


inspired  the  royal  youtli  with  the  resolution  tp  ahandwi 
all  worldly  honors  and  enticements,  and  to  serve  God  in 
solitude  and  humble  obscurity.  Wendcliu.  tiierefore 
leaving  his  father's  home,  went  abroad  dad  in  iH)or  gar- 
ments, and  after  making  some  pious  pil-rinuiges,  entered 
cm  the  duties  of  a  sheplienl,  in  the  emplov  of  a  nobleman 
near  Triers.  Here,  in  order  to  give  himself  up  to  j.raver' 
nnseen  and  nninterrupted,  he  sought  the  most  retired 
fields   and    meadows   for    pasturing   his   flocks.^      Whilst 


'I        : 


■     St.  Weuaelin. 

taking  the  most  faithful  care  of  the  sheep  entrusted  to 
his  keeping,  he  at  the  same  time  kept  his  tiioughts  on 
(rod  and  heavenly  mysteries.  Heaven's  blessing  de- 
scended on-  the  j.ious  shepherd,  whose  sheep  esfcaped 
every  harm,  and  grew  and  throve. 

At  the  suggestion  of  his  employer,  who  soon  dis- 
covered Wcndehn's  high  vocation,  he  entered  the  Bene- 
dictine Abbey  at  Tholey.  Here,  God  granted  \o  his 
servant  the  gift  of  mn-acles^  so  that  the  d..>^f.-e?qed  ami 


THE   SAINTLY    MATllOXS. 


207 


the  sick  flocked  to  liis  i)ivsence,  und  niaiiy,  by  virtue  and 
efficacy  of  liis  prayers,  obhiined  miraculous  relief.  At 
the  death  of  the  abbot,  Wendclin's  brethren  chose  him 
for  their  head,  and  undci-  his  guidance  the  community 
attained  a  high  degree  of  monastic  perfection. 

When,  in  tliS  year  1015,  he  felt  his  end  approaching, 
he  sent  for  tiie  bishoj)  of  Triers,  made  known  to  him  his 
royal  extraction,  and  then,  after  receiving  the  last  sacra- 
ment, he  gave  back  his  stainless  soul  to  his  Creator.  The 
many  miracles  which  took  place  at  his  tomb  attracted 
crowds  of  pilgrims  to  tiie  glorified  sj)ot.  To  shepherds, 
he  has  always  been  a  true  and  i)owerful  intercessor  at  the 
throne  of  God,  for  the  protection^of  themselves  and  their 
flocks. 


62.  The  Saintly  Matrons. 

8T.    MONICA. 

"  Wlio  shall  find  a  valiant  won-.an?  The  price  of  her  is  as  of 
things  brought  from  afar  off  and  from  the  uttermost  coasts.  She 
hath  opened  her  mouth  to  wisdom,  and  the  law  of  clemency  is  on 
her  tongue.  Her  cliildreii  rose  up  and  called  her  blessed:  her  hus- 
band praised  her." — Provei!Bs  xx.\i. 

Although  it  was  through  woman  that  sin  with  all  its 
accompanying  miseries  came  into  the  worlfl,  yet,  in 
accordance  with  the  ancient  promise  of  God.  it  was 
through  woman,  too,  that  the  Sa\'iour  who  was  to  remove 
all  these  calamities,  was  to  come  among  men.  T-hus  was 
woman,  as  avcU  as  man.  chosen  to  be  a  channel  of  redeem- 
ing grace.  And  as  Jesus  Christ,  even  after  his  ascension, 
continued  to  live  in  men,  so  too  was  he  pleased  that  his 
life  should  be  jirolonged  for  all  time  in  the  devont  female 
sex  :  in  i)ious  mothers,  chaste  wives,  and  angelic  vivginSt 
The  glorious  queen  amid  all  her  sex,  the  model  of  a]]. 
motherjs^^  wivcji^imd.  maidens^  was^  D*¥i4^4««ftbl©  da«gh»- 


iSi 


t 


i  '  1, 


4; 


^    I 


208 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


It 

i 


/ 


ter,  Mary.     In  lier  the  life'  of  Clirist  Wiis  reflected,  like 
the  light  of  the  sjan  in  the  gentle,  faithful  moon  ;  for  nil 
her  spiritual  loveliness  is  naught  else  but  the  reflection  of 
the  glory  and  sanctity  of  Him  whom  she  brought  into  tlie 
world.     In   a   similar  manner  docs   Clirist  manifest   his 
beauty  of  holiness,  in  all  dutiful  mcJthcrs.     For  when  the 
Christian  matron  presses  her  cherished  offspring  to  her 
heart,  feeds  it  from  lier  breast,   and  gazes  with  loving 
fondness  upon  its  growth  and  progress;  when  she  gives 
to  it  its  first  lessons  in  prayer  and  in  love  for  God,  and 
devotes  herself  to  her  child  in  health  and  sickness,  she 
but  presents  to  our  admiring  gaze  a  copy  of  the  inexpres- 
sible love,  wisdom,  and  iidelity  with  which  Clirist  begets, 
sustains,    guides,    and   preserves  his    regenei^^d    child. 
Hence,  the  love  and  faithfulness  of  the  Christian  mother 
has  ever  been,  in  the  Catliolic  Church,  a  subject  of  the 
tenderest   respect   and    adniiration ;    aud   holy   motliers, 
such   as   Monica,  Fclicitas,  Blanche,  Bridget,  and  others 
have  ever  been  regarded  as  graceful  ornann>nts  of  God's 
kingdom. 

St.  Monica  was  the  mother  of  a  great  Doctor  in  the 
Church,  St.  Augustine;  his'mother,  tvo,  in  the  fairest 
^and  most  complete  sense  of  the  word.  She  bore  hira  ; 
and  again,  after  he  had  become  dead  to  God  by  sin  and 
heresy,  she  broughj;  him  forth  ojice  more  to  God  and  the 
Chupch,  in  a  regenerated  '  life  of  penance  and  sanctity.- 
Notwithstanding  the  careful  training  which  Monica  was 
ever  solicitous  to  give  her  son,  he  permitted  himself  to  be 
led  astray  b;y  his  inordinate  passions,  plunged  headlong 
into  licentiousness,  and  tlien,  blinded  by  false  worldly 
learning,  he  was  ensnared  into  Manichaeism,  and  thus  lost 
his  faith.  AVho  can  describe  the  anguish  of  the  faithful 
Monica's  heart?  Yet,  blessed  (ire  they  who  weep  and 
mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted.  And  comfort  was 
g^a^tcd  to  Monica ;  for  her  son  was  convertefl,  and  be,- 
eame  a  perfe_cij]i()dcl_Ql  the  strictest  virtufi^waa  aft-er-^. 


r 


THE   SAINTLY   MATRONS. 


209 


wards  made  bishop,  and  at;  I>^  became  a  Doctor  and  a 
pillar  of  strength  in  the,  Church^vT"' 

.  Isow  how  was  all  this  accomplis>cd?  Py  three  jwer- 
ful  influences.  ,In  the  first  place,  iiotwithstandiug.Augus- 
tine's  errors,  there  lay  buried;  down  deep- in  his  heart,  a 
smouldering  love  for  virtug  and  truth,  a  love  that  had- 
been  implanted  Iby  a  holy  mother's  care.  And  this'  love 
saved  him  froni  irredeemable  destruction.  Secondly,  in 
the  very  depUis-of  his  sensuality,  he  experi^enc^d,  besides 
remorse,  a  yearning  for  a  higher  and' nobler,  a  more  last- 
ing and  satisfactory  happiness.     The  fallacies  of  tieresy 

.  fascinated  his  imagination-rtlTTb  captivated  his  intellect ; 

"  yet,  in  the  myst^erious  recesses  of  his  heart,  a  secret  voice 
ever  admonished  him,  saying:  "This  is  not  truth." 
Moreover,  there  were  not- wanting  warnings  from  Avith- 
out.  In  the  third  place,  it  was  the  gratuitous  gift  of 
heavenly  grace  Avhich  took  so  fast  a  hold  upon  his  soul, 
pulling  him  out  ojfsthe^mire  of  iniquity,  and  supply- 
ing him,  with  such,  strength,  that  he  won  ^a  complete 
victory  ovCr  himself,  over  vice,  and  over  falsehood.  And 
now,  mark  well,  Chrfsiian  reader,  to  w'hom  Augustine 
owed  this  signal  and  final  triuni{)h — to  his  saintly  ^nd 
devoted  mptheiS  Monica.  Th(f  i^ious '  counsels  andT  steady, 
example  of  heiv  gentle  love,  her  magnanimous  forbear- 
ance, her  purity  and  piety,  had,  from  his  earliest  infancy, 
im])ressed  themselves, deeply  find  ineffaceabl}4>on  the  young 
man's  heart,  and  imbedded  in  his  soul  a'^pai-k  of  charity, 
which  would  not  be  extinguislied,  but  insisted  on  burning 
up  brightly,  as  soon  as  the  first  breath  (Adivine  grace  fell 

"Hipon  it.  From  "his  father,  a  rude  and  uncultivated  pagan, 
whom  St.  Monica,  in  obectienco  to  her  parents,  reluctantly 
raarri<>d,  the  son  could  not  have  derived  any  spark  of 
Christian  sentiment.  To  his  mother  he  was  indebteij, 
als6,  for  an  unceasing  ex^igrtation  to  penance.  She  even 
followed  hita  throu'gh  many  long  and  weary  journeys, 
="TTever  for  a  raomcTitdigeontm#Ti?1rcf  efforts  to  recta 


r 


i   '9 


V 


If 


(  i 


1 


1 


■% 


210 


CHRIST   IX    m>    CHURCH. 


him,  i-raying  incessantly  to  the  throne  of  grace  for  him. 
Even  her  df^iiK^  were  so  many  prayers  ir  his  behalf.  On 
one  occasion,  di.  called  upon  a  holy  and  e^•perienced 
bishop,,  for  comfort  and  enconragcnient.  And  he  said 
"^to  her  :  "  Persevere  in  y(/tir  pi-ayers  ;  I  he  child  of  so  many 
tears  cannot  be  lost."  You  know,  Christian  reader,  how 
literally  this  ])rediction  was  fulfilled. 

From  these  examples  we  may  learn  how  nu>ch  a  holv 
mother's  prayers  can  effect.  /  St..  Monica  died  at  Ostia, 
near  Kome,  in  the  year  387,/After  luiving  returned  thanks 
to  God  for  -Clearing  lier  simplicatioiis,  and  after  having 
piously  requested  her  sony  to  remember  Jier  when  at  the 
altar.      - 

63.  The  Virgin  Saints. 

ST.    CECILIA    ANa  ST.    CATIIA 
"  Incomiption  brin<,-(>tli  ^^^;u•('|•  to  God.  "—Wisdom  vi.  ^0. 

If  tlie  lives  of  Christian  mother.<  and  wives  make  mani- 
fest to  us  the  beauty  of  Christ's  holiness,  how  much  more 
brilliantly,  and  beautifully,  and  closely  must  the'  life  of 
Christ  be  exeiiiplitied  in  the  lives  of  that  lily-bearing. 
army,  of  wtoi-.St.  John  writes,  that  they  sing  in  the 
heavenly  Jermalem  that  mysterious  canticle  which  they 
alone  can  sing;  that  choir  who.«e  state,  according  to  the' 
testimony  of  Christ  and  his  Apostle,  is  sul^ncr  than  that 
of  mamed .  peoi)le— the  choir  of  the  holy  virgins.  The 
virginal  beauty ^o£  Jesus  Christ,  his  comi)leto  victory  ov<^r 
the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  the  .pure  glowing  love  of  a  life 
wrapped  up -i^^^d— where  are  all  these  qualities  more 

bqiU^iu-ihe  i)ure  life  of  a  Cliris- 

'souls  >have  been  generated 

h^^i;tire   existence,  by 

j^  Two  oMhc  most  sublime  and 

wifeWn  und  wiUiQut  the  j:d()jgtci-^  .axe  St, 


fully  and  trul>'^, 
tian   maiden? 
in   countless    nu 
oiir  mother' The 
remarkable, 


% 


ij 


/ 


TIKE  vriioiN  8:a.in':^h. 


211 


Cecilia  and  St.  CatLarinc;  the  former  a  Roman  from  the 
•banks  of  the  Tiber,  tlio  latter  a  Greek  from  the  city  of 
Alexandria.  .  St.  Cecilia  has  always  been  considered  the 
patroness  ^,6f  ^^brisiian  art;  St.  Catharine  is  honored  as 
the  pi«^^^f  (Jhristiun  scienee.  In  the  Catholic 
^^^^^v^4^^**nr  "  «t:ind  side  by  side  like  the  two  graceful 
^■'' W^w'  °^  ^'^^^  burnished  candlesticks  mentioned  in 
e  ApaTO.lyp;5e. 

Cecilia,  born  about  the  year  205,  distinguished  alike 
by 'her  virginal  beauty  and  her  brightness  of  intellect,  dis- 

/ 


St.  Cecilia. 


cpveredj  in  her  tondcrcst  years,  that  original  well-spring 
^  alHi'^iuty  and  of  all  understanding,. the  religion  of  Je- 
sus Christ.  Her  eliiof  delight  lay  in  the  holy  gospefe  and 
in  the  beautiful  chant  of  the  Church.  More  than  once, 
as  tradition  avers,  while  pouring  out  her  soul  to  God  in 
hymns,  accompanied  with  instrumental  music,  the  celes-^ 
tuil  choirs  came  down  from  heaven  and  united  their  voices 
to  hers.  At  an  early  age  slie  was  betrothed,  though  much 
against  her  own  will,  to  a  young  pagan  named  Valerian. 
But;at  their  wedding-feast  our  Saint  said  decisivelv  ij^ 
fle^imsband :  ^^^mt.f»]u..ih^:L^^^  already  beeTO^ 


''''il 


^    e 

:-'. 


■  ■'I 


,-       4 


II 


I 


^A 


%^ 


?■ 


li 


!■ 


V 


^    • 


2ia 


CttRIST   IN'IIIR   CHURCm 


poiise'd  to  Jesiis  Chns't,  and  iutcyul  to  preserve  my  vir- 
ginity; and  even  now,  an  angel  of  tiie  Lord  stands  by  my 
side,  as  my  i)rotector  and  defender,"  Thongh  astonished 
and  disappointed  at  lirst,  tiie  yoiilhTul  ])agan  entered  into 
himself,  became  a  convert,  and  was  baptized.  His  brotlier 
Tiburtius,  and  their  nfutual  friend  ^Maximus,  followed  his 
example.  Cecilia  was  very  soon  a'fterwards  dragged  to 
martyrdom,  and  died  triumphant  on  the  22d  of  ^'ovem- 
ber,  230. 


8t.  Oatharirie. 


L^ 


Like  8t.  Oerilia  in  llie  depiirtment  of  mnsic.  SI.  Ontha- 
rin'e  of  Al(>\aiidria  has  for  ccntui-ies  been  honored  in  the 
Chnreli  as  the  pjitroness  of  Christian  science;  aiiotliei-  evi- 
dqnce  of  the  siiu'cre,  genuine  sym])alhy  of  the  Church  fin- 
all  t lue  knowled<re. 

The  following  account  will  explain  why  this  S;iiiit  and 
virgin  w;is  selected  to  be  the  patroness  of^sciciice.  One 
dwy,  wliHt^  the  I'hnperor  Maxiuunus  was  holding  a.  grand 
aJttl  'flokftttrt  fr*ttTTtf  n+  AlrTnTirlrtn  in  hnunr  nf  The  hraTh(Ti 


i^ 


THE    VIRGIN    S.MMS. 


218 


deities,  suddenly  a  fair  young  maiden  emerged  from  the 
'  assembled   multitude,   and  taking   her    stanc^  before    the 
throne  spoke   to  them   in  words  of  such  fervid  eloquence 
and  profound  knowledge  and  wisdom  against  the  absurdity 
of  worshipping  false  gods,  and  in  favor  of  the  one  true  God, 
that  neither  the  emperor  nor  any  one  of  his  assembled 
l)hilosophers  could  rei)ly.     This   intrepid  virgin   was  St. 
O-.iiharine.     Without  dehiy   the. emperor   summoned  the 
most  distinguished  i)liilosophers  in  Alexandria,  and  others 
well  versed  in  religious  science,  to  refute  the  Saint.     But 
they  signally  failed.     Nay,  more,  at  the  convincing  argu- 
ments of  Catharine,  the  cloud  of  darkness  was  lifted  from 
their  understanding;  her  words  penetrated   their  liearts^ 
they  professed  thein.^'lves   disci])les  of   Christ   crucified. 
Thus  did  Christinn  science,  hand  in  hand  with  virginal 
innocence  and  childlike  simplicity,  win  the  victory  over 
l)roud  and  sclf-ijullicient  worldly  wis(h)m.     St.   Catluirine 
was,  however,  condemned  to/Vlio  a  nuirtyr's  death.     The 
wheel   on  which  she  had  been  i)laced,   having  broken  to 
l)ieces  witiiout  injuring  her  fair  i)erson.  she  was  dispatched 
with  the  sword  on  the  :^.)t]i  of  November,  307. 

Such  nn\  the  nine  choirs  of  Christ's  chosen  o^ies,  in 
whom  he  manifests  the  l)eauty  and  glory  of  his  holiness. 


-A 


.    i  * 

li 

V 


<« 


1  i 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

M- 

THE  HISTORY  OF  HERESY  AND  ITS 
AGGRESSIONS. 


ciiiusr  LIVES   IX    HIS  ('.nrK(  II   as  the   deuided   and 

DESriSKl)    ONE. 


64.  Nature  and  Origin  of  Heresy. 

"  There  must  also  be  lieresies:  Hint  they  also  wlio  are  approved, 
may  be  made  manifest  among  you." — 1  C'ouintui.\ns  xi.  ly. 


S  Jesus  Christ,  is  the  light  th:it  cunie  into  the  world 


jii  ii 


NATIIIJK    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HERESY. 


215 


proposed  the  institution  of  the  blessed  Siicrament  of  the 
altar,  they  treated  his  promise  as  an  impossible  one,  and 
turned  their  backs  upon  him  and  his  doctrine.  They 
either  denied  his  miracles,  or,  as  they  were  stubborn  facts 
well  known  to  the  people,  endeavored  to  explain  them 
away  or  attribute  them  to  some  evil  power. 

If,  then,  our  beloved  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ 
was  de8j)ised  to  such  an  extent,  at  the  very  time  when  he  was 
])erfecting  visibly  among  men  the  great  mystery  of  man's 
redemj  tion,  we  must  not  wonder  that  his  holy  Church, 
|,he  teacher  of  all  nations,  should  have  been  despised,  and 
her  teachings  denied  and  rejected  in  after  times.  Christ 
still  lives  in  his  Church;  but  he  lives,  and  he  will  live, 
till  the  great  day  of  judgment,  "  a  sign  that  shall  be  con- 
tradicted." 

As  dirring  his  actual  life  upon  earth,  the  human  intel- 
lect will  be  ever  unable  to  grasp  tiie  profound  mysteries  of 
his  religion,  and  will  therefore  rise  in  })roud  and  blind 
rebellion  against  his  doctrines.  It  will  always  be  as  easy 
to  tind  a  ])retext  for  doubting  and  denying,  as  it  was  in 
his  own  time.  As  in  those  days,  the  human  heart  will 
always  Ix'  inclined  to  evil,  and  will  therefore  be  ever  ready 
to  controvert  the  truth  of  those  doctrines  which  inculcate 
humility,  obedience,  and  self-control.  In  all  ages,  as  well 
MS  in  the  davis  of  Clirist,  will  the  human  conscience 
endeavor  to  quiet  itself,  and  justify  its  unbelief.  As  then, 
so  will  proud  men  ever  entertain  feelings  of  envy  and 
hatred  towards  those  who  demand  belief  in  the  doctrines 
of  an  invisible  master;  and  the  more  so,  when  these  repre- 
sentatives of  the  spiritual  are  blameless  in  their  own  lives. 
Such  is  the  origin  of  all  heresy. 

'I'ho  history  of  heresy  presents  a  sad  j)icture  to  our 
view:  Ahis!  how  senseless  must  that  nnm  be.  who  sits  in 
jmlgment  on  the  truth  brought  down  from  heav(>n  by  tho 
Son  of  (Jod;  the  truth  which  iKMiontirmed  by  miracles  ui'id 

0<JUI('(t      W  l1  TI     tttP     ittTttTtt  ;      tTtt*   Trtlt  ft     TTT    M  1 1  opt!    IJt'it'llUt?    TTtttTTttttB 


^^ 


Ill 


i: 


216 


CHRIST    lA    ills    ClIUUCJI. 


of  the  holiest  meu  sacrificed  their  lives;  oi^JJic  truth  in 
whose  possession  the  noblest  and  most  ilitelligent  persons 
.  have  found  peuce  in  life  and  consolation  m  death!  How 
lamentable  tiie  fate  of  the  millions,  who  tiirough  the 
"-"stubborn  i)ride  of  heresiarchs,  have  been  kept  away  from 
the  well-springs  of  truth,  from  the  source  of  grace  and 
hfe,  from  Christ  and  his  Ciiurch!  And  yet  it  may  be 
salutary  and  useful  for  us,  Christians,  to  cast  a  glance  at 
this  sad  history  of  heresy  and  heretics.  In  tiie  midst  of 
the  unholy  conflicts  stirred  up  by  these  unbelieving  men, 
we  shall  see  Jesus  Christ,  the  great  leader,  in  his  sublime 
majesty  and  dignity,  defending  iiis  Church  against  the, 
powers  of  hell;  rallying  liis  faithful  forces  to  her  defence, 
enlightening Jhem,  strengthening  .'hem,  inspiring  them; 
thus  covering  his  Church  with  the  grand  shield  composed 
of  his  fathers  of  the  Church  and  his  holy  councils;  and 
bringing  forth  from  the  fires  of  i)ersecution  kindled  by 
heretics,  tlie  gold  of  divine  truth  more  bright  and  beauti- 


ful ti 


lan  ever. 


65.  Heresies  Concerning  Creati'on. 


ONOSTinSM. 

"  Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they  became  fools."— Romans 
i.  22. 

Among  the  several  s])eci(\s  of  heresy  that  ulTlicted  the 
Church,    there  were  four  of  very  grave    ini])()rtance,  for 
they  wore  directed  iigainst    the  four   i)riiUM|)al   articles  of- 
faith;  nanu'Iy.  the  creation  of  Ihc  world,  the  bles.'^ed  Trin- 
ity, the  divine-human  person  of  Christ,  and  divine  grace. 

In  opposition  to  the  teachings  of  the  Church  on  crea- 
tion, the  (luostics  rose  and  lived  during  the  first  three 
centuries.  These  heretics,  although  priding  themselves 
on  their  superior  wisdom,  and  desi)ising  the  simple  faiih 
of  the  Christians,  fell  into  tiie  most  ridiculous  absurditioB. 


HERESIES    CONCEKNING   CREATIOX. 


217 


Thus,  it  seemed  to  them  impossible  that  God,  a  sublime 
and  iiilinite  Spirit,  should  iiave  created  rough  and  chaotic 
matter.  They  maintained  that  the  material  comjjosing 
the  earth  had,  like  Gyd  himself,  existed  from  all  eternity; 
tliat  out  of  (tod  had  eimi»ntcd  a  second  and  somewhat 
inferior  spirit;  and  out  (/this  one,  a  third  sjjirit;  still  less 
perfect;  and  so  on  for  a  long  generation,  each  spirit  being 
less  and'less  good,  less  and  less  wise,  till  at  last  one  came 
who  rebelled  against  God  aiul  sought  to  setup  a  separate  and 
iiulependent  kingdom  of  his  own.  With  this  view  he  took 
possession  of  chaoUciuatter,  and  formed  the  world,  with  its 
three  natural  kingdoms  of  earth,  fire,  and  water.  The  mate- 
rial world  therefore,  deriving  its  origin  from  a  finite  and 
evil  sj^ii'it,  all  matter,  or  teni])oral -creation,  must  be  of 
jtself  e^il  and  sjnful.  They  taught  that  the  man  who  is 
desirous  of  reaching  and  of  being  united  to  God,  must 
abstain  as  much  as  possible  from  alh  bodily  or  material 
things,  especially  froyi  the  gratification  of  the  senses,  from 
wine  and  marriage;  and  that  for  this  reason  Jesus  Christ, 
himself  one  of  the  lower  spirits  or  emanations  from  tho 
supreme  (Jod,  had  no  real  body,  but  only  an  imagiiuiry 
one. 

These  heretics  mixed  uj)  these  and  similar  absurdities 
with  maxims  fi'oni  the  lu.ly  Scriptures,  and  from  tiie  books 
of  i)agan  philosophy;  and  Haltered  themselves  that  they 
were  in  secure  possession  of  |)erfect  truth.  Their  svstem 
of  morality  was  very  austere  ;  l)ut  the  lives  of  nu)st  of 
them  were  dishonest  aiul  vicious. 

The  most  remarkMbU'  upholders  of  (Jnosticism  were 
Ceriiithus,  BasHides,  Valenjine,  xMareion,  and  Manes  the 
i'ersian.  The  last  was  the  author  of  Afanicha-ism.  Their 
errors  were  conibated  and  refuted  by  the  .\postles  John  ami 
Paul,*  l)y  the   first  disciples   of  the  A[)ostles,  and  by  the 

Tims  St.    Paul  Imd  these    lierclicM  in   his  mind,  wlicn    in  tJie 


4tli  cliuiJtcT  of  Ilia  lirst  Epistle  to  Tiniotliv,  h 


^  i^jjQStiili^  wJit^iarbiU: 


(!  warns  liim  apiinst 


rawi  (Im*  »w+'  ?#  orrtntn  rnrST^.      ff  ttie ^ 


! 


1    : 
'I    ■■ 


I 


218 


CIIKIST  IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


'S^ 


1 


V- 


; 


earliest  Fathers  of  t]^e  Church,  all  of  whom  kept  special 
watch  lest  the  true  teachings  of  the  Church  should  be  m 
the  least  degree  changed  or  tainted  by  these  absurd  opiu- 
ious. 


66.  Heresies  against  the  Blessed  Trinity, 

AUIANISM. 

*•  *  *  ' 

"The  god  of  tliis  world  liath  blinded  the  minds  of  unbelievers, 
that  the  light  of  the  gospel  of  the  glory  of  Christ,  who  is  the 
image  of  God,  should  not  sluuo  unto  them."— 2  Couintiiians  iv.  4. 

The  doctrine  of  the  holy  Trinity  was  assailed  as  early 

=if  as  .the  tliird  century.  Among  its  opponents  were  Paul  o^ 
Samosata,  Beryllus  of  Bostra,  the  African  priest  Sabel- 
lius,  and  others  more  or  less  known.  These  heretics  main- 
tained th/it  there  is  but  one  person  in  God,  although  this 
person  reveals  himself  in  a  threefold  manner  as  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  Arius,  a  irt-iest  of  Alexandria, 
undertook  to  combat  and  controvert  this  error,  but  fell 
himself  into  the  opposite  jcrror.     In  his  attcmjjt  to  prove 

,  the  I'rinity,  he  destroyed  the  Unity  of  divine  Being,-and 
taught  that  the  Son  of  God  is  distinct  from  the  Father. 
not  only  in  })crson,  but  uho  in  nature;  that  be  is  not, 
generated  from  the  stfbstance  of  the  Father,  but  created 
out  of  nothing,  and  therefore  is  not  co-eternal  nor  e(iual  to 

.  the  P'ather,  but  is  merely  the  first  and  most  excelleiLt  of 
his  creatures.  Tbus  we  see  that  Arius  is  the  father  of  the 
so-called  roason-believing   jK^ople  'of    our    own    dav,   tlie 

^rationalists,  who  deny  the  diyiniivy  of  Jesus  Christ.'    God 

Church  hiis  forbidden  the  priests  to  murry,  and  proiiibi»ed«lll  the 
faithful  to  eat  flesh  meat  on  f()rbi(hlcn  days,  It  is  not  because  slie 
•considers  marring!!  wrong  or  flesh  meat  injurious,  but  because  she 
knows  that  such  abstint'nce  from' marriage,  or  froiii  tlie  nue  of  flesh 
meat,  wiien  practised  out  of  love  for  God,  is  good  juid  salutary  to 
the  soul. 


■^•"■'"•■•""'•'■^ 


y 


HHHKSIKS    A(;AIXST   THE    BLESSED   TKINITY.       219 

raised  up  in  the  person  of  St.,  Atlianusius,  that  holy  Doc- 
tor of  the  Church,  a  formidable  adversary,  a  glorious  con- 
fessor  and  defender  of  the  truth  against  Arius,  whose 
errors  were  formally  and  solemnly  condemned  in  the  Gen- 
eral Council  of  Nice,  in  3:25.  However,  God  permitted 
Arianism  fo  spread  over  a  large  i)art  of  Christendom,  and 
for  ;30()  years  to  disatfect  many  peoples,  jiartly  by  the  crafti- 
ness   and  hypocrisy  of    its  teachers,    but  cliieHy  by   the 


111 


w 


/  ^: 


.>. 


,\"- 


U  .<  t 


\  X- 


\\-^ 


;r 


■.  VT 


r  H 

WM/A 

w^^m^ 

LJi 

°!^ 

.r^:^^^; 

3w^\  ~ 

-i^        .  y--  :K 

■"  -^^ 

^ 

t  / 

"                       -         -C--~          ~ 

- 

St.  Athaiiasius. 

inllucnce  of    the   imp 

LM'ial  court 

,  wl 

uc'ii 

had  banished  St. 

Atluimisius. 

AUieil  with  (his  h 

presv  was  that 

of  Macedonius,  which 

taught  that  tlie  Holy 

(iiiost  was 

not 

.of  1 

he  same  nature  or 

essence  as  the  Father, 

but  less  t 

han 

citl 

KM-  Father  or  Son. 

This  sin  of  blasphem 

y  against 

the 

Ho 

Iv  (J host  was  con- 

<lemned  in  the  Counc 

1  of  Const 

intino]) 

e,  held  in  38\. 

« 

«*» 

/ 

> 

amLX 


220 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


I   t 

J 


67.  Heresies  against  the  Divine  Person  of  Jesus 
,    ,  Christ. 

NESTORIANISM. 
"Is  Christ  divided?"— 1  Cokintiiians  i.  13. 

■  One  hundred  years  after  Arius,  Nestorins,  patriarch  of 
Constantinople,  rose  up  against  the  Catliolic  doctrine  con- 
cerning the  unity  of  tlie  person  of  Christ.     He  treated  the 
mystery  of  the  intimate  and  insei)arab}e  union  of  the  two 
natures  in  Ciirist,  of  the  divine  nature  and  liuman,   as 
absurd  and  untrue;  and  taught  that  in  Clirist  there  are 
two  i)ersons,  a  divine  and  a  human  i)erson,  and  that  as 
Mary  had  given  birth  to  the  human  person  only,  she  tliere- 
fore  must  not  be  styled  the  Mother  of  God.     In  the  year 
•  428  he  first  preached  this  heresy  publicly  in  Constantinople. 
The  consternation  and  sorrow  of  the  laity  wert^  indescrib- 
able, on  being  told  from  the  pulpit  that  they  were  no  longer 
to  address  the  Blessed  Virgin  as  Mother  of  Cod.     "  Aiid 
how,"  they  inquired,- -  if  the  human  and  divine  natures 
.  are  not  inseparably  united  in  Christ,  if  only  the  human 
nature  of  Christ  suffered  and  died  on  the  cross,  how  can 
we  be  saved?     What  value  can  the  sacrifice  so  offered  on 
Calvary  have    for   our    redemi)tion?"     This    heresy    was 
apposed   and   refuted   by  several  bisho])s  and  i)riests,  but 
especially  by  the  holy  Cyril,  patriarch  of  Alexandria;  and 
m  the   t^m-d  General   Council,   beld  at   Ephesus,  it  was 
formally  condemned. 

The  Abbot  Eutyches  fell  into  the  op]H)site  error.  In 
his  impru<lont  zeal  to  refute  Nestorins,  he  advanced  the 
erroneous  theory  that  the  human  nature  in  (Mirist  is  so 
closely  united  with  the  divine  nature,  tliat  it  is  absorbed 
in  the  latter,  so  that  we  can  lu-edicate  but  one  nature  in 
Christ,  which  is  the  divine.  He  did  not  reflect  that  if 
the  human  nature  of  (Jbrist  is  elirfiinated.  be  cannot  *)e 


our  brother,  and  hence  cannot  be  our  Jiedeemer, 


Against 


HERESIES   CONCERNING   GRACE. 


221 


this  error,  and  those  who  maintained  and  defended  it, 
called  Monophysts,  St.  Leo  the  Great  fought  with  the  zeal 
and  ability  of  an  apostle.  It  was  condemned  m  the  year 
451  by  the  fourth  General  Council  of  Cluilcedon. 


/ 


68.  Heresies  Concerning  Grace. 


PELAOIANISM. 


"lean  do  all  things  iu  him  who  strengtheneth  me.— For  it  is 
God  who  worlietli  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  accomplish,  according 
to  his  good  will."— PiiiLiPPiANaii.  13,  and  iv.  13. 

About  the  same  time,  the  T3ritish  monk  Pelagius,  in 
Rome,  au|  afterwards  iu  Carthage,  assailed  the  Christian 
doctrines  on  grace,  and  on  free-will  in  man:  elevating  the 
latter  too  higli  and  destroying  the  former.  Like  the  ra- 
tionalists of  our  times,  this  misguided  monk  taught,  fifteen 
hundred  years  ago,  tluit  Adam's  sin  inflicted  no  injury 
u])on  his  descendants,  that  consequently  there  is  no  origi-' 
nal  sin,  tluit  bai)tism  is  not  necessary  to  salvation,  and  that 
man  has  within  liimself  so  much  moral  force  thut  he  can 
lead  a  virtuous  life— ])lcasing  to  God  aifH  meritorious  of 
heaven— without  the  aid  of  grace.  TJie  chief  adversary 
o^  this  lieresy  was  St.  Augustine.  This  pious  and  learned 
Doctor  of  the  Church  dcfeiuled,  against  the  Pelagians,  the 
necessity  of  'supernatural  grace;  and  iigaiust  the  Mani- 
clioeans  the  free  exei'cise  of  the  will  in  man.  /All  our 
virtue  and  holiness  can  proceed  only  from  f  tie  union  of  the 
divine  and^umati;  that  is,  from  heaven's  grace  combined 
with  free  co-operation  in  man.  It  is  divine  grace  that 
gives  freedom,  vitality,  and  strength  to  the  human  will, 
wounded  and  weakened  as  it  is  by  Adam's  sin,  and  renders 
it  cai^il)le  of  genuine  supernatural  virtue.  These  ancient 
doctrines  of  St.  Augustine  were  ratified  in  several  Councils, 
and  the  errors  of  the  Pelagians  were  again  solemnly  and 
formally   condemned   in    the    third   General    Conned   at 


esus. 


I 


i 


iw 


222 


CIIKIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


69.  Iconoclasm. 

"  You  shall  not  make  to  yourselves  any  graven  thing  to  adore  it ' 
— LEViTicrs  xxvi.  1. 

Towards  the  close  of  Christian  antiquity,  a  difficulty' 
arose  in  the  Eastern  Church  i-egarding  pictures  and  images. . 
.  Away  back  in  ''tlid4ays  of  the  martyrs,"  when  the  Chris- 
.    tians  were  as  yet  cbm|Hilled  to  celebrate  the  sacred  mys- 
teries,  secretly,    in  the   Catacombs,   they  used    to  set  U], 
pious  images  for  their  edification  and  consoktion.     This 
practice  was  founded  in  Ihe   very  spirit  of/Christiauity. 
Tiierefore,  wiien  Serenus,  bishop  of  Marseilles,  cast  out  all 
the  images  from  his  Cathedral,  under  the  pretence  of  pre- 
venting divine  honors  being  paid  to  them,  the  Pope,  St. 
Gregory  the  Great,  wrote  to  him  as  follows:  "  Thou  shouldst 
not  have  destroyed  wliAt  was   intended,  not   indeed  for. 
worship,  but  for  the  instruction  of  the  unlettered  in  yoW 
church.     To  adora  a  picture  is  (juite  another  thing  from  ■ 
learning,   by  that  picture,   the  mystery  which  we\iro  to 
adore.     For,  what  writing  is  to  the  educated,  a  picture  is 
for  those  who  cannot  read,  for  in  it  thcv  can  see  and  know 
the  course  they  have  to  follow/"     In  Hie  OrientalCiiurch 
some  injudicioivs  persons  in  tiiat  i)art  of  the  world   had 
been  guilty  of  showing  too  much  reverence  towards  images, 
and  this  fact  furnished  a  pretext  to  the  Greek  emperrtr' 
Leo  the  Isanrian,  in  the  year  727,  to  forbid  all  veneration 
to  images  us  being  idolatrous.     Tiie  conflict,  tlion  begun 
lasted  nearly  one  hundred  and  twenty  years;  dui-ing  which 
time  many  of  tlie  emperors  forgot  "all  care  for  the  worldly 
welfare   of  their  subjects,  in  order  to  meddle  in  Churcii 
affairs,  and  by  repeated  imperial  orders,  fines,  and  penalties 
endeavored  to  root  out  the  lawful  and  ancient  veneration 
of   images.       The  pious   empresses   Irene  and    Theo(Mi-a 
interested  themselves  in-upholding  this  unduly  dispjd?iged 
ancient   Christian    custom,   and  the   seventh  "and  eighth 


« 

V 


A 


^ 


<* 

\ 


^ 


THE   GREEK 'SCHISM. 


223 


General  Councils,  at  Nice  and  Constantinople,  defended 
the  veneration,  but  not  the  adoration,  of  i-magej^  as  sojrie- 
thmg  lawful,  and  extremely  useful  to  the  Christian  pe6|)le. 


70.  The  Greek  Schism.* 

•N^  "The  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  two,  from  the  top  even  to 

the  bottom."— Matthew  xxvii.  51. 

Uuring  the  middle  ages,  three  violent  storms  swept 
over  the  Church,  tin-eateuiiig  its  unity  and  tearing  many 
of  her  children  from  her  motlierly  bosom.  These  were  the 
(Ireek  schism,  the  Manicha^an  fanaticism  of  the  thirteenth 
^century,  and  the  aggrc.-^sion^  of  tiie  restless,  mischievous 
Hussites. 

The  author  of  tlie  (^reek  schism  which  separated  the 
Eastern  or   G_^ek   Church   fryjn   the  mother  Church  at 
Rome,   was  Pli()tius.     This  designing  man,>  supported  by 
the"  intrigues    and  p^wer  of  tlu>  imperial  court,  assumed 
the  patriarchal  chair  of  Constantinople  in  858.     At  first  he 
.sought.  I)y  flattery  and  bribes,  to  obtain  the  recognition  of 
thci  Poj)o.      Failing  in  tliis,  he  threw  olTtbe  mask,  and  had 
thy  au(l;icity  to  condemn  the  Pioman  Cliurch  as   having 
departed    from   th(>   fidth    and  di.scipline  of   tlie  Fathers. 
This,  hy]i(Hfritical  ]u-etender.  after  being  deposed  by  Leo 
VI.,  died  in  the  year  801.     Tho  fires  of  this  dispute  con- 
inuedt.)  slumber  till  1043,  when  the  ambitious  Michael 
Cerularius  having  been  raised  to  tlie  patriarchate  of  Con- 
stantinojile,  tlie  flames  again  burst  forth  with  fresh  fury. 
This  proud  ])relate  rei)eated  the  charges  of  Phot i us  against 
Rome,  and  so  far  succeeded  in  deceiving  and  stirring  up 
the   people  that   the  revolt  soon  ended    in    the  complete 
sej)aration   of   the    Eastern    Chiircli   from   the  Roman  or 
Western   Church.     Ever  si^ice  that  unhapin'  occurrence, 
the   Popes  and  the  bishops  assembled  in  ali  tho  General 
-2^!''"^'i!^LJ^!':Xg.^cc'Ll':!Jiimi£ m  ^l'^^'^'  nffo'-tg  h^  brjiig  back 


cr 


,-''"^ 


A 


CHIUST    IX    HIS    CHURCH. 

the  schismatics  to  tlie  unity  of  the  Glmrch.  But  altlioiigh 
these  efforts  sojiietinies  i)roniisc(l  hai)i)y  results,  and  al- 
thoitgli  some  individu^  bishops  have  returned  (United 
Greeks),  yet  the  gulf  between  the  mothei- Church  and  her 
schismatical  children  yawns  as  wide  and  as  gloomy  as  ever. 
Tiie  Greek'  Churyh,  once  so  fruitful  in  learned  Doctors  and 
holy  saints,  lies  dead  ijow  like  a  dry  branch  broken  fi^n 
the  vine.  The  same  curse  of  religious  Ca'sarism,  or  impe- 
rial supremacy  and  tyranny  over  the  ChurclH  the  same 
desolating  blight  brought  abolit  by  the  early  emperors  of 
Constantinople— whicli  unlucky  city  fell. into  the  hands  of 
the  Mohamfcedan  Turks  in  U53— still  sits  brooding  over 
the  unhappy  Greek  Church;  and  the  supreme  power,  reli- 
gioiis  as  well  as  civil,  is  vested  in  the  hands  of  the  irrespon- 
sible Russian  Czar. 


V 


71.  The  Albigenses  and  Gatherers., 

"  When  they  had  stood  up  a^rainst  Moses  and  Aaron,  they  said- 
Let  It  be  enough  for  you  that  all  the  multitude  consisteth  of  holy 
ones,  and  the  Lord  is  among  them;  why  lift  you  up  yourselves  above 
the  people  of  tlie  Lord?  And  immediately  the  earth  broke  asunder 
under  the^r  feet,  and  devoured  them,  with  their  tents  and  all  their 
substances!" — NrMBEHs  xvi. 

Hardly  five  hundred  years  after  this  unhappy  event 
in  the  East,  the  Western  Church  was  overrun  and  sorely 
afflicted  by  the  fanatical  Gatherers  and  Albigenses.  Thoio 
were  not  two  distinct  sects  of  heretics,  but  rather  a  mix- 
ture of  the  Manichfpans  and  Gnostics,  who  si)rang  into 
existence  in  Southern  France  and  Spain,  at  tiie  beginning 
of  the  thirteenth  century.  On  account  of  their  jiompotis 
pretensions  to  virtue,  they  were  styled  Purists,  or  Puritans, 
and  sometimes  Albigenses,  from  their  chief  stronghold,' 
Albi  in  the  south  of  France.  ;, 

They  rejected  all  the  Christian  fundamental  truths 
concerning  the  creation  of  the  world,  the  incarnation  of 


i  t 


THE   ALBIGENSES    ANd\a^1'IIEKERS. 


226 


Christ,  and    his   resurrection ;  all    exterior    ivorship,  and 
especially  marriage.      They  taught   that   it  was  not  the 
God-  of  light  who  treated  tlie  world,  but  the  god  of  dark- 
'ness— Jehova.     The  men,  therefore,  descended  from  this 
god  are,  of  their  nature,  enemies-  of  light.     But  the  God 
of  light  sent  his  chief  angel,  Jesus,  into  the  world,  with 
an  imaginary  hody,  in  order  to  free  men  from  the  slavery 
of  Jehova  and  his  ten  commandments.     These  freedmen 
forjfTicd  'a  ^superior  class  of  beings,  and   to  -them  only  is 
"obedience  due;  for  they  alone  live  hi  the  strictest  detach- 
ment from   corporeal  life.     Every  one  who   promises  to 
join  this  sect  before  his  death,  may  meanwhile  enjoy  all  - 
pleasures;  ol),serving  no  commandments,  esi)ecially  those, 
emanating  from  Jehova,  who  is  styled  by  these  heretics 
the  god  of  darkness. 

Such  abominable  theories,  if  reduced  to  practice,  would 
have  destroyed  the  foundations,  not  only  of  the  Church, 
but  also  of  the  State.     As  the  kindness  and  instruction 
vouchsafed  to  them  by  Po])e  Innocent  III.  were  in  vain, 
as  the  spiritual  crusade  of  i)reaching  and  of  the  Eosary 
carried  on   by  St.  Dominic  and   his  monks  did   not  com-* 
pletely  eradicate  this  heresy,  as  these  rebels  dared  to  lay 
violent  hands  upon  the  i)er^on  of  the  papal  legate,  Peter 
of  Casselnau,  killing  him  while  he  was  preaching  on  the 
loth  of  January,  1209,  it  became   necessary  to  resort  to 
forcible  means  of  subjugation.     A  body  of  soldiers,  led  by  ' 
Count  Simon  of  Montford,   marched  a^^ainst  them,  and  a 
number    of   cruel    and   sanguinary  battles   Avere    fought., 
About  the  year  1229  the  Inquisition  came  into  existence, 
and  handed  these  heretics  over  to  the  chr^stising  hands  of 
the  civil  power,  as  disturbers  and  mischief-makers  danger- 
ous to  society. 


t 

I 

in 
i| 


# 


(I 


'■.•^T.-* 


Rj!  ,  "^ 


226 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


i  : 


Iti  I 


72.  The  Hussites. 

"  As  Sodom  and  Gomorrlia,  in  lik*  mauiier,  tliese  men  also  were 
^     made  an  example,  "who  delile  the  flesh,  and  despise  domination,  and 
blaspheme  majesty. "-tJude  1. 

Many  other  discontented  and  disappointed  individual- 
allied  themselves  in  these  ages  with  the  Albigenses,Tind- 
ing  fault  and  creating  disturbance  in  the  Churcii  and  in 

"  society  generally.  The  outward  si)leiul()r  of  the  Church, 
tlie  i)riucely  magniticence  and  wealth  of  some  few  j)relates; 
together  with  the  disedifying  lives  of  some  few  individ- 
uals among  the  clergy,  scandalized  nuiny  a  well-minded 
])erson,  who  m  his  sl\ort-sightedness  and  prejudiced  vision 
was  unable  to  discern  the  exccjUion  from  the  general  rule, 
the  accidental  from  the  essentiid  and  real.  Persons  thus 
affected  easily  fell  a  prey  lo  the  temptation  of  doubt, 
insubordination,  and  positive  disobedience  to  the  authoritv- 
of  the  Church.  In  their  blindness,  they  could  not  see 
beyond  the  surface  of  things,  and  fancied  to  themselves 
that  the  sj)irit  of  Christ   had  deserted   the  inner  life  of 

"  Christianity.  They  conceived  a  hatred  and  contem])t  for 
the  Church,  its  ordinances,  and  even  its  mode  of  worship  ; 
and  wished,  or  affected,  to  be  altogether  internal  and 
purely  s])iritua'l,  in  order  to  become  more  intimately  united 
with  Jesus  Christ  and  with  the  life  beyond  the  grave; 
hence  they  gradually  became  immersed  in  tiie  ixuilous 
quagmire  of  a  false  mysticism.* 

Such  was  the  fate  of  the  Waldenses  of  the  twelth  cen- 

*  Mj'sticism  is  tlie  doctrine  wiiorchy  man  IcaiPM  tolx'coiu*'  closely 
united  with  Christ,  and  elevated  to  a  liiixlicr  plane  of  truth  and' 
prare,  by  the  pragtioe  of  prayer,  eonteniplation,  faslinir,  andllie  like. 
If  tiiis  tlieory  v/ew  strictly  carried  out,  to  the  exclusion  of  other 
means  of  sanctlfication.  such  as  Icarninp,  study,  hearing  of  .sermons, 
.  olwdience  to  Church  precepts,  etc.,  it  would  lead  to  false  mysticism. 
And  this,  after  raising  man  aloft  to  the  highesl  pitinacle  of  spiritual 
pride,  invariably  plunk's  liim  into  Ihedeplh'uif  scusiialiiy. 


y,:Mf.    .vi.:..^mm 


TIFE   HUSSITES. 


227 


tury  ;  of  the  Brethren  and  Sisters  of  Liberty  or  of  the  free 
spirit,  and  of   the   Apostolic  Brethren   in    the  thirteenth 
century.     John  Wickliife  of  Eiiiiland  belonged    to  these 
restless  mischief-makers.     He   lailed  vocifeiously  against 
the  temporal  jjossessions  of  the  Church,  against  tlie  Pope ; 
and,  like  the  Protestants  of  the  Reformation,    he    taught 
that  every  reader  of  tiie  holy  Scripture  was  an  infallible 
interpreter  of  its  meaning,  and  supremo  judge  in  matters 
of  faith,     lie  died  in  the  year  1384,  but  his  writings  were 
multiplied  and  widely  circulated  by  Johu^Huss,  the  Bohe- 
mian   heretic.       This    man    taught    that    some   men    are 
destired  l)y  Codfi-om  all  eternity  for  happiness,  and  these 
cannot  htilj)  but  be  saved  ;  th;it  others  arc  ju-edestineil  to 
eternal  perdition,  and  cannot  escape  it.     Only  the  elect, 
or  ])redostined,  can  be  members  of  the  Church  ;  they  only 
can   be  heads  of  Cliurch  or  State  :  wiiilst   to  the  others, 
obecfieiice  is  not  to  be  given.      II uss  was  therefore  danger- 
ous to  Church  and  gwvernment.      With    a   letter  of  safe- 
conduct     from     the    em])er()r    Sigismiind,     this    heretic 
appeared  before  thcv  (iererai  Council  ill  ('(instance.     Here 
the  princes  and  tli^. bishops,  m  the  most  friendly  manner, 
tried  to  jjcrsuade  him,   by  entreaty  and   e.\j)lanation,   to 
renounce  his  absurd  yet  dangerous   notions,  aud  thus  save 
Cod's  Cliurch  from  a  dreadful  scandal.  ,  But   this  proud 
and   obstinate   man  .withstood   both  entreaty  and  threat, 
and  was  burnt  to  death,  at  Constance,  on  the  Oth  of  .July, 
in  thoyeiir  1415,  as  a  hereti(>  and  disturi)er  of  the  i)ublic 
l)eace.* 

*  It  is  unlrur  to  nllcujc  tliut  llic  Clnirrh,  in  tlip  Counnl  of  Con 
stnncp,  put  IIiiss  to  dcaih.  Tlic  Conicil  did  notliing  but  its  (juty  . 
niimcly.  to  mljudjrc  him  uMiilty  of  Jiorcsy,  to  deprive  him  of  his  offlcc, 
and  to  cxrommunicato  liini  from  the  fold  of  tlie  Church.  He  now 
becnmp  tmiennble  to  tlie  civil  conrts,  us  ii  disturhei  of  tlir  public 
pence.  These  pronounced  liis  sentence,  iind  executed  it,  though  tlie 
bishops  of  the  Council,  necordmg  to  the  testimony  of  I'lrich  Heich 
entlml,  who  wiw-nn  eye  witness,  petitioned  King  Sigismund  and  the 
jwigHH  fe-M{>ftf»  Hthw'w  ttfr; -= 


f  i  Ii 

f  1 

I  15 1 


228 


CIIKIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


Some  of  the  Bohemian  nobility,  under  })retext  of  aveng- 
ing Huss,  and  of  demanding  the  reception  of  communion 
under  both  kinds,  inaugurated  against  King  Sigismund 
the  dreadful  Hussite  war,  which  was  ended  only  after 
twenty  years  of  carnage,  by  the  complete  defeat  of  the 
Hussite  heretics. 


73.  The  Reformation,  so-called.— Its  Causes. 

"  I  wonder  that  you  are  so  soon  removed  from  him  that  called 
you  unto  the  grace  of  Christ,  unto  another  gospel;  which  is  not 
another;  only  tiiere  are  some  that  trouble  you,  and  would  pervert 
the  gospel  of  Christ."— Galatians  i.  6,  7. 

As  we  leave  tlie  middle  ages  and  enter  into  modern 
times,  we  encounter,  iii  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  three  men  who  undertook  to  reform  the  Church 
of  Christ.  These  men,  while  claiming  to  remodel  and 
improve  the  work  of  our  Lord,  have  in  trutii  brokcyn  it 
into  fragments,  and  severed  from  the  centre  of  unity 
several  nations  of  Christendom.  These  so-called  reform- 
ers were  Luther,  Zwinglius,  and  Calvin. 

How  did  this  dismal  and  unhappy  division  take  place  ? 
How  was  it  possible  that  so  large  a  part  of  the  Catholic 
people  in  (iormany,  .Switzerland,  France,  England,  and 
other  countries  tore  themselves  away  from  the  bosom  of 
the  Mother  Church,  to  whose  kindly  and  motherly  care 
and  labors  these  nations  were  indebted  for  their  Christi- 
anity, and  therefore  for  their  civilization  and  pro8i)erity? 

Some  superficial  and  insincere  person  might  answer: 
"The  scandalous  trafVic  in  indulgences  introduced  "into 
Germany  l)y  the  Dominiesan  monk.  John  Tetzel,  was  the 
cause  yf  the  dismemberment  of  the  Churcii.  For  it  was 
this  ciroumstancie  that  opened  the  eyes  of  the  hitherto 
deluded  people,  and  made  thom  discover  the  avarice  and 
hypocrisy 'of  the  Papacy."  Hut  the  announcement  of 
grants  of  indulgences,  for  useful  purposes,  or  for'sonie  ooni- 


"W 


THE    HKFOH.MATIOX. — ITS    CAl'SES. 


229 


mon  good,  was  notliing  new  in  the  ears  of  tlie  Catholic 
pubhc.  Moreover,  history  has  made  it  certain,  tiiat  this 
Tet/el  was  not  at  all  guilty  of  the  scandalous  absurdities 
whicii  m  later  times  h;,ve  been  attributed  to  him.  Nor 
vva.^he  a  rude  fii^iatie,  but  rather  an  intelligent  and  edu- 
cated man. 

Then  again  it  is  insolently  alleged  that  down  to  the 
time  of  Luther  the  Cath.)lic  i)eoi)lc  were  buried  in  the  gross- 
est Ignorance,  that  (hey  had  grown  up  for  the  most" part 
without  school  instriu.'tion,  that  the  clergy  had  neglected 
preaching  and  reli<.ious  instruction,  and   that   the  Bible 
was   a  thing  altogether   unknown    to    the    peoi)le.      But 
when  Luther,  by  the  establishment  of  schools  for  the  peo- 
ple, diffused  education  far  and  wide;  but  more  especially 
when,  by  the  translation  of  the  Jiible,  he  j»iade  the  people 
iic(|uainted,  for  the  first  time,  with  this  holy  rule  of  faith 
and  annouiKK'd   tf.e  ovininal  ,j,>spcl  truth;    then  did  the 
people  at  last  discover  the   gi;eat   contradiction   between 
1^       the  pure  doctrine  of  iU,  gospel,  and  the  teachings  of  the 
Catholic  (Church.     Hence  they  turne(i  awav  with  enthu- 
siasm to  follow  tiie  new  ivligon. 

Hut  all   this   is  MS  untrue  as   it  is  ridiculous.      Before 
Luther  was  born,  schools  for  the  people  flourished  in  his 
native  country.      And  it  was  the  Church,  too,  that,  like  an 
anxious  mother,   had  provi,!,.,!   tiiese  schools  for  her  chil- 
dren.     When  we   read   m    the  old   praver-book  which  was 
in  use  among  the  laity  at    that  time  and  previous,  the  fol- 
lowing instructi.m   for  the  head  cf  a  familv,  "Hear,  on 
Sunday,  the  won!  ..f  (iod  dihgentlv;  attend'  (he  >H>rmons 
in  tin'  morning  an.l  in  the  af(erno„n,  lav  the  word  of  (Jod 
'     seriously   to  heart,"  we  learn    from  all    (his(ha(    preach- 
ing and  religious  instruction  were    no(    bv   any  means  so 
wofully  neglected    as  some  would  pre(end'.     In   (he  cities 
and  larger  villages  many  (MidowmeiUs  had  been  established 
for  (he  special   main(ei>!.nce   ..f  preachers  of  (he  word  of 


f 


'A 


} 


% 


!   I 


S;M 


a^3jaa3"';^iiTMri  a^ 


230 


CIJUIST   IN   HIS   CJIURCII. 


«V 


preached, .every  Sunday  in  the  various  oluixeties.  More- 
over, long  before  the  feham  Reformation,  there  were  in  the 
hands  of  the  German  ]wopIe  a  large  number  of  catechisms 
and  othei"  books  of  religious  instruction. 

Finally,  us  regards  the  Bible,  long  before  the  time  of 
Luther,  at  least  twenty  different  eflitlons  of  the  entire 
Scriptures  in  the  vulgar  tongue  had  been  publislicd, 
some-with  and  some  without  ex])lanat()ry  notes  and  com- 
ment. 

We  must  therefore  go  look  somewhere -else  for  the 
causes  of  the  great  falling  away  from  the  Church  at  the 
time  of  the  lleformation.  We  shall  find  tiiem  in  the 
civil  disorders  and  disturbances  and  corruptions  of  those 
ages.  .         • 

For  some  time  previous,  many  of ,  t1ic  German  princes,    / 
great  And  small,  liad  declared  their  inde})endence  of  the, 
German  emperor.     Of  these  many  had  become  greedy  and 
exacting,  and  very  despotic  and  cruel  to  their  subjects.^ 

Instead  of  the  ancient  and  well-tried  German  code 
of  laws,  another  system  had  been  introduced,  namely,  the 
old  pagan  Roman  code.  By  this  change  ^he  common 
people  were  subjected  to  injustice,  losses,  disadvantages, 
and  made  \o.rj  discontented.  The  great  wealth  which 
the  Church,  by  the  generosity  of  her  children  and  by  her 
own  care  and  industry,  had  gathered  together,  excited 
the  covetousness  of  the  princes  and  the  governments. 
Princely  and  noble  fannlies  often  seized  violently  ujk)h 
high  Church  dignities  and  officers  for  their  unworthy, 
indolent,  sliiftless  sons,  who,  having  no  fitness  for  the- 
jwsitions  and  no  vocation  from  heaven,  often  gave  the 
most  shocking  scandals.  The  unbelieving  free  sjjiritsof. 
that  time,  the  so-called  Humanists  of  the  younger  school, 
availed  themselves  of  these  scandals  to  arouse  the  hitherto 
contented  people,  by  ridicule  and  hatred  against  the 
Church.  Meanwiiilo  the  politicians  broached  again  (the 
old  Roman  doctrine  CaBsareo])a])ism  ;  that  is  to  say,  they 


mmmmm 


CATHOLIC    AND    PROTESTANT  TEACHINGS.       231 

tjinglit  that  temporal  princes  have  a  right  to  govern  and 
control  the  Church  as  well  as  the  State. 

Thus,  manifold  doubt,^  disquiet,  and  discontentment 
had  taken  i)ossession  of  the  minds  of  the  peo])le.  Hence, 
for  the  unfortunate  i)riests  who  rebelled  against  their 
mother  Church,  it  became  an  easy  task  to  lead  the  people 
astray.  And  whoi-ever  the  mass  of  the  jjcople  wished  to 
remain  true  to  the  old  Ciiurch,  their  despotic  and  avari- 
cious rulers,  who  meanwhile  had  appropriated  to  them- 
selves the  rights  and  the  property  of  the  Church,  carried 
them  away  violently  into  the  vortex  of  accession,  then  into 
schism,  and-finally  heresy. 


74.  The  Difference  between  Catholic  and  Protes- 
tant Teachings. 

"But  though  an  nnp:cl  from  lieavcn  preacli  a  gospel  to  you 
besides  that  whjch  we  »)avo  preached  to  you,  let  him  be  anathema." 
— Galatians  i.  8. 

Tiie  opposition  to  the  Church  was  directed,  in  the  begin- 
ning, by  the  sclf-(*yled  reformers  to  outward  things  and 
to  veritable  abuses.  But  the  obtuseness  of  their  intellects, 
tiie  pride  of  their  hearts,  and  the  dangerous  flattery 
bestowed  upon  them  by  the  great  ones  of  this  world,  led 
them  further  and  further  in  their  mad  career,  till  they 
enunciated  false  principles  which  threatened  to  undermine 
the 'doctrines  of  the  Catholic  Church.  They  were  not 
themselves  agreed,  even  in  their  errors  ;  for  they  disjiuted 
with  each  other  in  most  violent  and  passionate  language. 
'I'heso  conflicts  are  st,ill  going  on  among  tiu-ir  respective 
r()lh)wers.  In  our  day,  when  unbelief  is  ?i)reading  far  and 
'.vide;  when  believing  Protestants  aiid  unbelieving  Protes- 
tants arc  diverging  farther  imd  farther  from  eUch  other,  the 
teachings  of  the  former,  at  h-ast  as"  far  as  they  fall  short  of 
,tW  U'iith,  tfti^W  eAjH'twsf d  iw  the  foHownrg  pfoposffff 


'  m 


.■#> 


232 


'CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


1.  "The  Bible  is  the  ground  and  Vnrce  of  all  Chris- 
tian faith;  and  every  man  who  reads*  this  book  witlj  good 
will,  and  lives  accordingly,  will  i)artici])atc  in  all  truth 
and  grace  in  Christ."      .  ^  "  - 

Catholic  faith,  on  the  contrary,  teaches  us  that  Christ 
did  not  leave  his  children  dei)ending  upon  the  lejiden 
types  of  a  book,  but  ref(;iTed  them  to  his  Apostles  and 
Iheir  lawful  successors;  that  he  did  not  appoint  a  written 
or  ju'inted  book  to  be  the  infallible  guide  of  mankind,  but 
founded  for  that  purjxlse  a  liviiig  and  a  s])eaking  infallible 
Church;  and  tluut  she  alone  enjoys  the  authority  and 
l)ower  to  exi)lain  and  imjjart  to  men  the  true  meaning  of 
the  Bible,  and  the  sense  of  oral  .and  written  tradition.  The 
Bible  luis  always  been  recognized  and  used  by  Catholics, 
in  so  far  as  it  goes,  as  a  dui)ircate  on  parchment  of  the 
doctrines  which  our  Saviour  had  inscribed  with  a  i)encil  of 
divine  fire-,  in  characters  of  living  faith,  5n'  the  heart  of. 
the  Church.  ;  '  ►, 

,  2.    "  Faith  alone  is  sufficient  for  salvation."     The  Cath- 
olic  Church,,    on    the    contrnry,    teaches    us   that   Christ 
requires  from  his  folh^wers,  not  only  faith,  but  exacts  also  ' 
as  a  necoftsiiry  condition   to  salvation  works  of  (Christian 
charity  i)roduced  by  faith. 

3.  "Christ  alone  is  a  priest  f()revor.  and  therefoi-c  bis 
Church  needs  n^  priesthood,  but  merely  learned  men   to 

■  preach  the  word  of  God,  and  to  maintiiin  Church  disci- 
I)line  among  believers."  The  Catlutlic  Cliurch,  On  the 
other  haiul.  teaclies  that  Christ  in  his  ((uality  of  hi<di.- 
priesi  communiciited  his  ,])riestly  jileititude  anil  power  to 
the  Apostles  iuid  their  success'Ts,  and  gave  them  a  com- 
mission and  authority,  not  only  to  preacft  liis  doctrine, 
but  also  to  renew,  in  an  unljloody  manner,  his  ever-bles.sed 
sacrifice,  and  also  to  administer  the  sacraments  and  to 
di8])ense  blessings  in  his  name. 

4.  "  The  Church  of  Christ  needs  no  head  but  Jesus 
Christ,  and  has  no  other."     On  the  other  hand,  the  Catho- 


CATHOLIC    AND,  PROTESTANT   TEACHINGS.       233 

lie  Church  teaches  that  Christ  has  appointed- St.   Peter 
and  his  hiwful  sficcessor  the  Pope,  to  be  liis  visible  reT)re- 
«entain-e  and  the  cliief  head  of  the  Churc.'!),  tlie  ceittre  of 
Christian  luiity,  and  the  infallible  teacher  of  the  truths  of 
faith. 

5  ^' Ther.e  are  but  two  Sacraments  :  baptism  and  the 
^ords  Supper."  The  Catholic  Church  maiutains  that 
Christ  ordained  seven  Sacraments,  which  have  been  dis- 
pensed to  men  from  the  beginning  of  Christianity. 

0  ''  Christians  have  no  other'  sacrifice  than  the  bleed- 
mg  Sacrifice  of  our  Lord  on  the  cross."  The  Catholic 
Church  holds  that  this  bleeding  sacrifice  of  the  cross  must 
iu  obedience  to  Christ's  command  at  the  last  supper,  be 
renewed  in  an  unbloody  manner  in  the  mass  till  the  end  of 
time,  as  tlu-j.redict-ed  clean  oblation  of  bread  and  wine 
-according  to  the  order  of  Melchisedech. 

7.  "As,  God  wishes  (o  bo  worshipped Jn  spirit  and 
truth,  no  images  and  but  k•^y  cerenionies  are  to  be  alloucd 
when  we  worship  him."  The  Catiiolic  Church  teaciies 
that  pious  symbols,  and  significant  and  sacred  ceremonies  - 
awaken  and  assist  interior  devotion  and  worship  to  Cod' 
and  therefore  may  be  emj.loyed  in  the  practice  of  our" 
religion.  ,         ♦  ' 

8.  ''  I^or  the  i)ardon  of  his  sins,  the  sinner  needs  nothing 
more  than  faith  in  the  atonement  by  Christ,  and  a  firm 
resolut.on  to  amend  his  own  life."  On  the  contrary,  the 
Catholic  Churcu  teaches  that  Christ  commissioned  the 
Apostles  ayd  t lit ir  successors  to  absolve  j^enitent  sinners 
from  their  sins,  when  with  the  necessary  conditions  and 
dispositions  they  have  revealed  them  in  confession. 

9.  "The  Lord's  Supi)er  is  only  a  symbol  and  sacred 
memorial  of  tlie  atoning  deiitii  of  Jesus  Christ  "  On  the 
contrary,  the  Catholu.  Chu.f  h  te-aches  that  in  the  blessed 
Sacrament  of  the  alkir,  the  real  promised  Bread  of  Life, 
desus  Christ  iiimself,  is  really  and  triilv  present. - 


i    1 
r 


234 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


to  be  offered  ;  tlicrcfore  it  is  an  unchristian  practice  to 
pray  to  Mary  and  the  other  saints."  The  Catholic  Church 
holds  that  it  is  a  useful,  reasonable,  and  salutary  practice 
to  venerate  Mary  and  the  other  saints,  and  to  beg  their 
intercession  for  us  before  the  throne  of  God.         \    ' 

11,  "Beyond  the  grave  there  are  but  two  places: 
heaven  and  hell."  The  Catholic  Church  teaches  that 
there  is  a  third  place,  called  Punjatory,  and  therefore  that 
prayer  and  sacrifice  sIkjuM  be  offered  for  the  souls  of  the 
faithful  departed. 

Thus  we  see  how  far  away  from  the  old  faith  modern 
heresy  has  gone,  and  how  much  those  persons  are  to' be 
pitied  who  have  turned  away  to  the  "  new  gospel."' 


1}  I 


M 


75.  Martin  Luther. 

'   "  Such  false  apostles  are  deceitful  workmen,  transforming  them- 
selves into  the  Apostles  of  Christ."— 3  Couintuians  xi.  13. 

Let  us  glance  hastily  at  the  history  of  the  three  un- 
fortunate men  who  brought  so  much  division,  strife,  con- 
tention, and  hatred  into  the  once  united  and  hapj)y  Chris- 
tian family. 

Martin  Luther,  the  most  learned,  active  and  efficient 
among  the  reformers,  was  born- on  the  lOth  of  November, 
1483,  at  Eisleben  in  Saxony,  became  an  Augustinian 
monk,  and  was,  later,  a  jiriest  and  professor  at  Wittenberg. 
During  his  lifetime,  some  monks,  while  preaching  the 
doctrine  of  indulgences  in  Germany,  solicited  from  their 
hearers  some  small  offerings  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  the 
most  glorious  tem})le  in  Christendom,  St.  Peter's  Church 
at  Rome.  Luther  found  fault  with  the  conduct  of  Tetzel, 
one  of  the  preachers,  and  posted  u]/ion  the  door  of  All 
Saints'  Church  in  Wittenberg  a  written  exposition  of  his 
own  individual  views  ou  indulgences,  containing  ninety- 
Jimjm>I><)wJldonjk..  Tlim  happened  .(jjL^QlitoLm:.31sU-Ji>lL^-.- 


•^ 


■^ 


v 


■•> 


MARTIX    r.UTI 


l^ 


Tlie 


itg)! 


iuted 


much  excitement  over  all  Europe, 
iind  mauy  w<5ll-nieaning  i)ersons  symj)athi2ea  with  the  dar- 
ing friar,  whom: 'tkpy  looked  upon  ai  a  zealous  opponent  of 
unchriatiail  practices.     Luther  himself  had  no  intention, 
in  the  Jjeginniiig,  of  separating  from  the  Church  ;  for  in 
March,  15 19,'  he  wrote  to  Eome,  that  "  ndxt  to  Christ,  the 
authority  of  the  Pope  was  to  him  above  everything  in 
heaven  or  earth.,"    And  a  year  later,  he  assured  the  em- 
peror Cluirles  V.  tiiat  lie  wished  to  Jive  and  die  a  faithful  and 
obedient  son  of  the  Catholic  Church.     But  the  evil  spirit  of 
contradiction  had  blinded  him.     Denying  one  Christian 
truth  after  another,  and  falling  under  the  ban  of  the  Church, 
•he  joined  her  enemie8,  and  ridiculed,  by  speech  and  writing^ 
in  the  most  opprobious  terms,  the  teachings  of  Catholic 
faith,  its  moral  prccepte  and  ancient  i)ractices;  till  filially, 
in  1525,  he  tram])lcd  under  foot  his  solemn  vcAvs  of  reli- 
gion, and  married  Catharine    Bora,    herself  an   ex-nun. 
With  consummate  cunning,  Luther  had  recourse  to  the 
aid  of  princes,  governments,  and   the  nobilitv,  whose  at- 
tention he  called  to  the  wealth  locked  up  in  monasteries, 
p   the    episcoiial    revenues,  etc.     At   the   same   time  he 
preaciied   the  doctrine:   the  one  hundredth'  i)art  of   the 
present  wealth  of  the  Church  is  sufficient  for  .its  support, 
a^lus  artful  policy  of  the  man  who  once,  at  the  altar,  had 
vowed-.undying  lidelity  to  his  Church,  accomplished  its 
inirpose.      Many  princes  and   governments  joined   him, 
took  possession  of  the  Church  pro])erty,  and  forced  their 
subjects  into  the  new  religion.     Luther  died  in  February, 
154(1.  comphiining   that,  to  his  own  jiersonal  knowledge 
iuid  ol)sorvation,  the  German  people  had  become,  since  the 
beginning  of  the  new  religion,  more  immoral,  wicked,  and 
unj)rinci])led  than  they  had  formerly  been. 


X 


235  .,> 


286 


CllKIST    IN     HIS   CIIUKCII. 


If  i 


i 


76.  Ulrich  Zwingli. 

"Jesus  I  know,  and  Paul  I  kiu)\v;  but  who  aiG,^youV"— Acts  or 
THE  Apohtles  xix.  15.'  '  * 

Ulricli  Zwingli  was  born  January  1st,  1484,  at  Wild- 
hansen  in  Switzerhti?5t;  was  ordained  priest  and  ajipointed 
pastor,  first  in  Clarus  and  afterVards  in  Einsiedeln,     Al- 
though very  learned,  he  was  an  un\f>ortliy  jiastor  of  souls, 
for,  according  to  his  own  avowal,  he  gave  great  scandal  by 
his  unchaste  manner  of  life.    Yet,  in  1518,  he  was  chosen 
pastor  at  Zurich,  where  very  soon,  under  the  protection  of 
the  government,  he  preached  against  the  Pope,  against  his 
worthy  and  i)ious  bishop,  Hugh  of  Constance,  and  against 
the  ancient  doctrines  of  the  Church.     He  ceased  to  cele- 
,  brate  mass,  destroyed  religious  })icturcs,  dispersed  the  reli- 
gious communities,  and  married.     In  his  religious  contro- 
versy at  Zurich,  on   the  29th  of  January,  1523,  Zwingli, 
among  other  absurdities,  uttered  the  following  proposition  : 
"'The   so-called   sjjiritual  authority  of   the  Church  is  not 
founded  on  the  teachings  of  Christ,  but  the  civil  authority 
is.     To  the  latter  belong  all  the  }U'crogatives  to  which  the 
clergy  lay  claim;  to  the  same  civil  authority  do  men  owe 
exclusive  submission."     This  was  precisely  the  same  dis- 
honorable ])()licv  which  Luther  adoiited,  in  order  to  com- 

.  .   .  .  .       .       ' 

pletely  win  over  to  himself  the  civil  authorities,  in  order 

with  their  help  to  force  the  success  of  his  new  departure. 

Zwingli  denied  moi'e  strenuously  and  more  absolutely 
than  X/uthor  himself  the  doctrine  of  the  reaf  presence  in 
the  Eucharist.  Tie  pretended  to  recognize  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  only  a  iigure  or  symbol  of  Christ,  and  a  ])ious 
commemoration  of  Ilim.  His  controversy  on  this  doc- 
trine with  Luther,  who  wanted  to  retain  that  dogma,  was 
so  coarse  and  bitter',  that  when  Luther  afterwards  heard  of 
his  death  in  the  l)attle  of  Kajipel,  in  1531,  ho  cried  out 
with  delight:  "There  is  the  end  of  the  notoriety  which  he 


^ 


tl 


n: 
ai 
tl 

tl: 


!■ 


JOHN    CALVIN. 


237 


M- 


endeavored  to  acquire  by  blasplxeming  against  the  Eucha- 
ns  .  Now  they  will  make  Zwingh  a  martyr  of  Christ,  in 
order  to  hll  tlieir  measure  of  blasphemy  till  it  overflows  " 
Equally  hostile  to  Luther  were  the  adherents  of  Zwingli 
and  they  styled  Luther's  short  confessign  of  fafth  so  un- 
clea.i,  b  asphemous,  and  diabofical  a  work,  that  it  stood 
unequalled  m  its  infamy,  and  was  a  disgrace  to  Christi- 
anity.  ^ 


77'  John  Calvin. 

U.l'lT!''  T"^"  ^'  ""'  ''■''"'^'■'^  ^°"^^'=   ^"^  nevertheless,  woe  to 
that  man  by  who.n  th.  scamhU  cometh.--MATTUEW  xviii.  7. 

Jolm    Calvin     born    on    the    loth   of  July,    1509,   at 
Noyon,  m  Jn-an^,  was  destined  by  his  poor  j.arents  for 
he  Church.     I^wever,  he  did  not  take  priests'  orders, 
bu    gave  h^nsel^tTI)  to  the  pursuit  of  the  positive  science^ 
und  to  the  study  of  Jurisprudence.     Becoming  acquainted, 
.  HI  the  University  at  l>aris,  with  the  principles  of  Luther- 
auKsm,  he  began  the  study  of  the  IloiyScriptures  under 
the  d.rect.on  ot  professors  who  were  dee,)ly  infected  with 
that  modern  poison.     At  once   he  entered  upon  the  de- 
fence and  .Klvocacy  of  Lutheranism  with  such  unmeasured 
v.olence,  t  ,at  he   soon    saw  himself   com^.elled   to   leave 
inmce.      lie  went   to   Basel,    in    Switzerland,  where  he 
lenuuned  a  whole  year,  and  completed  liis  work  on  -In- 
struction in   the  Christian  Religion"-a  book  which  his 

go^po  s.         In    tins   book    tlie   sour   and   gloom/  Calvin 
ntroduced,  together  with   Luther's  innovations,  his  own 
;l>^mal  doctrine  of  predestination,   or  foreordained  fate.    • 

One  portum  of  men,"  says  he,  -Qod  has  foreordained  to 

e  erlastmg  ha])piness,  in  order  to  manifest  his  mercy  in 

em      These  are  perfectly  s.f,^  of  their  happiness,  and 

X    iMo     be.  damned.     All  other  men   Go.l    has  from  all 

Mumt^.Mm,d^,m^  tt^^ntmiUm,  in  order-Co  nianlfeir= 


u 

1; 


^i*i 


S 


* . 


I    I 


^.^ ' 


I'r 


238 


CHinST   IN    lilS  ciirucH. 


I 


his  justice  in  tliem.  These,  notwithstanding  all  their 
efforts,  cannot  attain  to  salvation.  In  the  reception  of 
the  sacraments,  they  receive  neither  grace  nor  justifica- 
tion." 

From  Basel,  Calvin  went,  in  the  year  15I5G,  to  Geneva, 
where  he  remained  some  time.  Here  this  restless  but 
energetic  mail,  by  means  of  his  great  learning  and  iron 
will,  succeeded  in  nushing  his  way  into  the  highest  and 
most  exclusive  socrety,  hotii  ecclesiastical  and  worldly, 
where  he  forced  his  errors  ui)on  very  many.  This  apos- 
tolic advocate  and  defender  of  "  Gos])cl  liberty"  composed 
a  creed,  which  all  the  inhabitants  and  subjects  of  Geneva 
w6re  forced  to  swear  that  th.ey  wt)ul(l  follow.  He  perse- 
cuted with  the  most  i)ersistent  aiidj,inveterate  hatred  all 
who  did  not  agree  with  his  views  in  every  particular. 
He  threw  j^olsec  the  physician,  Ameaux  the  senator, 
Gentilis,  and  several  others  into  i)rison,  or  had  them 
exiled.  James  Gruct  he  had  several  times  put  to  the 
'  torture,  and  finally  beheaded.  The  unfortunate  doctor, 
Servetus,  he  burned  to  death  at  the  stake.  And  all  this 
wicked  cruelty  because  Ihese  persons  held  views  different 
from  his  own.     He  died  on  the  2Tth  of  May,  1564. 

His  heresies  and  Church  ordinances  forced  their  way 
principally  into  France,  Holland,  England,  and  Scotland. 
Lutheranism  was  confiiu'd  mainly  to  Germany;  while  the 
doctrines  of  Zwingli  prevailed  most  in  Switzerland. 


78.  The  Effects  of  the  Reformfiioiie 

"  By  their  fruits  j'oii  S^iall  know  them.     Do  nion  gather  grapes 
of  thorus,  or  figs^^f  thistles?" — Matthew  vil.  16. 

Concerning,  the  significance  and  the  consequences  of 
the  Reformation,  we  have  the  opinion  of  a  very  respect- 
able man  of  that  time,  who  at  first  greeted  Luther's 
movompnts  with  joy    because   like  thoUsanrls  of  others^  he 


EFFKCTS    OF    TIFK    IJKI-'Oini  ATIOX, 


239 


remove  certuiu  abuses  in 


believed  tliat  Jiis  object  was  to  ^^_^  ^^^ 

the  Clmrch,  and  to  improve  ti.e  morals  of  the  peoplTand 
not,  as  n  soon  i.roved  to  be,  to  cban-e  the  very  faith  itself. 
.  Well  and  truly  might  this  learned  and  admired  Erasmus 
•of  Rotterdam  say  to  the  Keformers:   "  What  do  vou  want 
to  do?     You  ask  the  world  to  despise  and  reject  the  tra- 
ditions cherished  l)y  our  fathers  for  centuries!'    Your  new 
gosi)el  lacks  everything:  prophecies,  miracles,  virtue,  learn- 
ing, the  sanction  of  scholars,  the  testimony  of  martyrs  ; 
and  yet  you  ask  us  to  rush  in  and  embrace  this  new  gospel 
of  yours?     You  want  to  make  us  believe  that  the  Church 
was  deprived  of  Christ  for  fourteen  hundred  years,  and' 
that  while   the    bridegroom   slept,   the  bride  wflrshi])])ed 
■strange  imd  false  gods!     11iere  is  no  greater  Asfortune 
than  to  fall  away  from  the  Church.     If  you  gather  to- 
gether all   the  sins  of  luxury,   pride,  avarice,  and  every 
other    vice  which   is   charged   to    the   i)riest,  the   many- 
headed  monster  of  all   these  vices  would  be  nothing  in 
ugliness  to    the   monstrous  crime  of   secession  from  the 
Church.     The  Ai)ostles  abstained  from  marriage ;    or,  if 
married  before   their   calling,   lived   with    their  wives 'as 
l)rother  with  sister,  in  order  the  more  fullv  to  devote  them- 
selves to  the  cause  of  Christ.     Now  a  new  gospel  has  come 
into  full  bloom,   according  to  which  priests, and  monks 
may  violate  their  solemn  vows  and  enter  into  matrimony. 
Of  old,  the  gospel  used  to  transform  wild,  wicked,-  and 
unruly  men  into  peaceful  lambs.     But  the  followers  of  our 
new  gospel  become  savages,  rob,  curse  their  benefactors, 
and    preach    rebellion    to   lawful    authority.      I   see   new 
hypocrites,  nm  despots  ;  but  not  a  footprint  of  the  Holy 
'Spirit.     Show  me  one  man  who  has  been  made  bettei^  % 
this  new  gospel.     I,  for  my  part,  have  not  seen  one  who 
Iws  not  become,  on  embracing  the  new  o])inions,  a  worse 
man  than  he  was  before,  if  possible.     Wherever  this  new 
gos])el    prevails,   learning   falls   to    the   grotmd,  and  the 
writings  (>f_jthe  nnciejit  father*  4W=e  <k#pk©d^-¥he-phi^^ 


'?l< 


if 


M 


^d 


f. 


240 


CIIKIST   IN   Ills   CHURCH. 


>    i 


h! 


,.:,*•-' 

k 

'»>' 


losophy  Qf  Aristotle  has  been  styled  by  Luther  the  work 
of  the  devil,  and  he  condemns  indeed  all  knowledge. 
Melanchthon  is  quarrelling  with  the  Universities.  Farel 
condemns  all  education  as  an  invention  of  the  devil. 
Perhaps,  too,  some  other  reformer  might  as  well  attribute 
to  the  fault  of  the  priests  the  great  falling  off  in  the 
number  of  students.  The  fault-tinders  are  wild  enough 
in,  their  charges  to  mMe  this  last  one.  For  they  forget 
how  many  colleges  of  England,  Holland,  France,  and 
other  places  have  been  fouflded  and  richly  endowed  by 
bishops  and  priests,  who  also  made  ample  provision  for 
the  decent  support  of'the  students.  It  would  ajjpearthat 
lately  some, Protestant  governments  have  advertised  for 
professors.'  They  will  also  find  it  necessary  to  advertise 
for  students ;  so  universal  and  incorrigible  is  the  intellpc- 
tual  laziness  and  languor  bi'ought  about  by  ih&  so-called 
n6w  gospel."  '  *         .  >- 

To  these  disorders  and  demoralizatit-l^i  may  l)c  added 
the  bloody  persecutions  which  soon  f|f$ll owed  in  many 
countries,  especially  in  England,  Jfifl^nd,  and  Scotland; 
the  brutal  violence  with  which  nilSj  of  the  princes  and 
governments  compelled  their  |feub'je(!ts  to  abandon  the 
religion  of-thcir  fathers,  and  tj^  embrace  i^c  new  theories  ; 
the  three  reli^^ious  war^  of  1^1,  lGr)(),  and  1712,  in  Switz- 
crlaiul;  .the  nine  Ilugnen^'  wars  in  France  which  lasted 
from    15G2  to  1588*,  and   more  especially   the   dreadful 


Ti^'lic  unfortunato  event  wliich  oecurrcd  in  l*iiria  during  the 
gMbelween  the  24lli  and  L'5tli  of  Aufrnst,  1572,  conunonly  known 
in  liistory  ".n  the  MassHcre  of  St.  Harthoh)m('W,  was  insti united  l)y 
th(f  Diiko  of  Oiiisi'.  who  sou/rlit  tX)  avens^e  iiiinsclf  for  tiie  lieath 
of  liis  father  oti  (Jaspar  Col i{;ny,  the  leader  of  tlie  HuguenotM,  or 
Freneli  I'roteHtanls.  Hy  an  tinhappy  eliaiu  of  eireunistances,  and 
througli  tlie  wilful  l)iindness  of  Kini;  Cliarles  IX.,  a  man  of  little 
or  no  force  of  clianu't(?r,  wliat  was  intended  to  bo  a  mere  act  of 
private  personal  vindictiveness,  was  niadi!  to  assume  vast  propor- 
tions never  (•bntcmplated.  It  is  stated  tiuit  no  less  tlian  four  thou- 
mmd  persons,  among  tluMn  many  ('atliolics,  lowt  thuir  lives  at  titat 


V     I 


FAtSE   LIBERALISM   OF   OUR   DAY.  241 

T'l'rlJT'  ^^''  ""^''^  devastated  Germany  fi^m  1618 
to  1648,  when  it  was  at  last  brought  to  a  close  in  the  peace 
meeting  at  Westphalia.  The  unity  of  the  German  empire 
was  rent  asunder,  the  imperial  power  paralyzed,  and 
i^uropc  wa>  drawn  up  into  two  vast  hostile  camps. 

Such  ^ikre  the  results  of  this  sha'm  reformation.  The 
individual  Catholic  is  far  from  wishing  to  hate  and  con- 
demn his  so-called  Protestant  fellow  creatures.  But  the 
Reformation  itself  ho  must  always  look  upon  as  one  of  the 
amentab  e  misfortunes  which  the  Lord  has  ever  permitted 
to  overtake  the  Church. 


79. 


The  False  Liberalism  of  our  Day. 


^  ou  I.aye  been  callc.i  lu.to  liberty :  only  make  not  liberty  an 
ocus.on  to  the  «osh.     Now  the  works  of  the  flesh  are  manifest 
which  are  eonte>U.oj.s,  emulations,  wraths,  quarrels,  disseusions. 
sects,  etivies."— Galatfans  V. 

If  we  cast  a  glance  at  the  disturbances  and  conflicts 
that  have  arisen  in  tiio  Church  since  the  time  of  the  Refer- 
mation  wednd  (hat  they  are  owing  chiefly  to  a  spirit  of 
false  liberalism.*  Tot  us  endeavor  to  imderstand  the 
meaning  of  this  important  word,  liberalism.     The  Catlio- 

time  in  Paris  and  the  provineos  of  France.  \he  deceitful  kin^  fn 
rolatmg  the  history  of  this  event  lo  Pope  Gn...,ry  .XIII..  ma.ie  it 
appear  m  the  ii^ht  of  a  discovery  an.l  frustration" of  a  treaehen.us 
plot  to  assiissiiuite  llie  royal  family. 

*This  pernicious  syst,.m  comprises  Qallicanism  in  France  Jo- 
soph.sm  and  Fel.ro„ia;,ism  in  Germany,  the  attempts  of  Hishob 
«'<'<•.  of  I  istoja  in  Italy,  Ilcrmcvsianism  in   Bonn,  and  other  al)sn? 
<  illcs.     One  of  the  most  dan.ir.Mous  of  these  modern  heresies  was 
.H..s,.n.sm    which  in  course  of  years  joine.i  hands  with  Qallicanism 
n  P  ance   1040  to  1718).     Thi..heresj-,ook  its  rise  in  a  misunder- 
tanding  of  the  teaching's  of  St.  A.^ru«tino  on  di^^„.  i^Mace.     It  pro- 
le.ule<l  that  the  Church  was  too  mNd  and  c^asy.  .Icnied  the  freedom 
o!  the  imn.an  will,  and  nmintained  that  man  cannot  resist  the  im- 
)Milse,s  of  gract;. 


242 


CIIHIST    IX    HIS    (MIURCII. 


11 


?,!• 


K  K 


I  ■    I 


lie  Cliurcli  is  opposed  chiefly  by  three  enemies:  the  civil 
power,  which  seeks  to  rule  the  Church  iiiul  Ijccome  omnipo- 
tent in  Jill  ilcp;irtmonts  of  society;  Bible-reading  Prot- 
estantism; and  inlidelity.  Now  there  have  always  been, 
and  tliere  are  to-day,  individual  Catiiolics,  certain  learned 
])rofessors,  even  well-to-do  and  comfortably  situated  clergy- 
men, who,  instead  of  trying  to  })reserve  the  legacy  of 
Christ  against  these  three  enemies,  aiul  to  defend  it  man- 
fully, dally  more  or  less  with  these  enemies,  and  yield  up 
now  one  portion  and  now  another  portion  of  Catholic 
truth  and  ecclesiastical  right,  with  the  laudable  intention 
of  saving  the  rest  and    purchasing   peace   at   any   price. 

Tiiey  forget  that  Catholic 
trilth  is  not-  the  creation  of 
num;  iu)r  yet  merchandise, 
which  we  can  cheapen  aiul  sell 
.for  the  sake  of  gain.  They  do 
not  renu;ml)er  howcmphati- 


^>V^   callv  and  positively  tiie  Lord 


Bishop  W.  E.  Kettel^r. 


commands  us  to  hold  fast 
with  unshaken  tirmness  and 
lidclity  to  the  smallest  tit- 
tle of  doctrine  and  ])recept. 
Thev  seem  to  foi-i-ct  that  the 


enemy  will  notremain  satisfied  with  such  concessions,  and 
that  their  own  pretended  sagacity  will  in  theen^  prove  a 
folly  and  a  smire.  it  is  true  that  these  persons  have  for  a 
long  tinu'  won  the  applause  of  the  world.  'J'hey  arc  called 
generous,  tolerant,  liberal,  and  enlightened-  Cut  holies, 
whilst  their  I»i-ethreu  who  have  stood  firm  and  unyielding 
by  the  side  of  the  ('hurch  have  l)ecn  derided,  cursed,  ami 
,  ])ersecnt(>d  as  ritramontaiuis.  Hut  this  very  flattc'wng 
adulation  of  the  world  shotild  make  them  afraid.  For 
Christ  the  Lord  has  said:  '*  Kcniember  my  word  that  1 
said  to  you.  The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  master. 
If  they  have  persecuted  me,  they  will  also  persecute  you. 


^ 


FALSE    LIBERALISM    OF   OUK  DAY. 


243 


If  you  had  been  of  the  world,  the  world  wo^  love  you  as 
'its  own;'  but  because  you  are  not  of  tlie  world/but  I 
have  chosen  you  out  of  tke  world,  therefore  the  world 
hate  th  you." 

Even  in  tiiese  degenerate  days  of  our  ov^fn  time,  the 
Lord  has  raised  up  gicat,  learned,  and  fearless  champions 


to  combat  fins  .,(.\v  lioresy  of  liberalism,  In  tlu.  front 
ranks  of  this  glorious  army  stand  Hisliop  Kcttejer  and 
"i<>  otber  brave  bishops  of  (Jcrmany  and  SwitzoHand. 
Tbcse  fnilliful  siuressors  of  t  lie  AposI  les.  t>(,nipi)P(l  witb 
llu'  sliining  armor  of  faith,  reposing  their  trust  in  Hod. 
j)OHsossing  experience  and  knowlcdg.^.  proof  against  the 
tlattery  and    fearless  of    tlie  Hnvals  of  th,.  mighty4ii^aK-^4^ 


1! 

1 1 

t1 

! 

1 

! 
1 

i 

i 

' 

¥' 


ifT 


ii..i 


244 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


i 


I 

ll 


"■II 


f 


this  earth,  iaithfuj  to  duty,  in  perfect  harmony  with  each 
other,  and  read^i^nd  eager  to  follow  in  the  focttsteps  of 
the  martyr-bish^s  of  the  primitive  Church,  they  stand 
ready  to  repel  the  inroads  of  liberalism  in  the  Church  of 
Christ;  defending,  by  pen  and  tongue,  thekgacy  of  faith, 
the  freedom  of  the  Church,  and  the  rights  of  the  Christ- 
ian people.  ,        , 

Foremost  in  this  sacred  contest  stood  the  late  Father 
of  Christendom^  the  glorious  Pope  Pius  IX.     (Jeu'tle  and 
kind   towards  all  men,  he  fought  from  the  beginning  of 
his  pontilicate,  with   the  persevemnce  and  courage  of  a 
hero,  against  the  rise  and.growth  of  false  })rinciples.    Like 
the  venerable  and  aged  Mathathias,   in  the  days  of  the 
faithless  and    haughty  king   Antiochus,    Pius   IX.    pro- 
claimed: "Every  one   that  hath  zeal  for  the   law,  and 
maintainetii  the  testament;  let  him  follow  m,e.    Now  hath 
})ride  -and  chastisement  gotten  strength,  and  th'e  time  of 
destruction  and   the   wpith   of   indigiuiiion:    now  there- 
fore, 0  my  soiiS,  be  zoi#ous  for  the  law"  (1  Maoh.  ii.). 
In  his  letters  and  sermons,  Piusltore  the  mask  from  the 
brow  of  that  Antiochus,  Godless  enlightenment,  proclaim- 
ing in  fearlfcss  {iccents'to  the  nations  that  timidity,  cow- 
ardice, <)r  liberalism,  cannot  lead  to  peace;  that  real,  true, 
and" enduring  peace  is  to  be  found  only  in  Christ,  and  m 
rendering  to  him  honest,  sincere,  and  undivided  homage. 
The  angels'  song  must  ever  be  ours:  *'  Glory  be  to  God  on 
high."  *  • 


CHAPTER  IX. 


•     THE.  HISTORY  OF   THE   PERSECU- 
TIONS. 


CHRIST  LIVES    IN    HIS   CHURCH    AS  THE   CRUCIFIED    ONE. 


80.  Persecutions  from  the  Jews. 

"  Pilate  saith  to  the  Jews:  Behold  your  king!     But  they  "dried 
out:Away  with  him,  away  with  him;  crucify. him."— John  xix.  14. 

Ty^ ELL  and    truly   hath   the   Suviour   suid:  '<If  the    ■ 
VV    world  hate  yon,  know  you  jthnt  it.huth  hated  me    •'! 
me  before  you.     If  they  have  per^ocutcji  me,  tliey  will 
also   persecute   y.ou.     FaUicr,  the   hour   of  my  death  is4 
come;  glorify  thy  Son.     Keep  and  protect   those   whom' 
thou  hast  given  me  in  thy  name,  tliat  they  be  one^  I  in 
them,  and  thou  in  me,  and  I  am  glorified  in  them." 

These  words  of  our  divine  Saviour  contain  and  oxi)lain  - 
the   whole  mysteryof   Christiah   persecution.     It   is  not    ^ 
the'Church,  it  is  not  its  leaders,  nor'ye't  its  momWrs  that 
the  world  has   persecuted  an^l  will   persecute  to  the  end 
of  time;    it^is  Christ  himseirwlio    is  the   object  of  its 
.fnry:  "Christ  in  Mm;"  that  is,  Christ  in  his  Church.      * 
Although  he  is  now  reigning  i^  heaven's  glory,  at  t\i(i   j 
iMither's  right  hand,   ho  is  really  and   trulf- living/i^ver 
again,  in    his  Church,  iiis  throe-and-thirty   yelirs;  fife  of 
martyrdom.     -  0  ye  of  little  faitfi!     Fs  it  not  nedqssaiy 
for  Christ  thus  to  suffer,  and  so  to  enter  into  his  glpry?" 
The  Ohu«-ch  must  follow  in  his  footsteps.     Agaijist  her,  as 
_ j-ii .  n  uifl  aj^.ii  iiaL  xiiui^  t-jio.  4itktre<F  ttt-  tt  titssol  frtc  'world  "Witt       ~ 


|f;l>l 


1     i 
jl!  ■  ■;' 


Mr.  ,1 


i     » 


^ 


/ 


^46 


CHRIST    IX    HIS-  CIinKOH. 


ever  be  niude  practicall}'  itiid  piiiufully'inanifeM..  But  after 
the  sword  comes  the  i)alin;  first  the  cross,  then  tlic  crown. 
The  first  persecution  against  the  Oliurcli  was  waged 
by  the  Jews.  Tliey  wlio  liad  delivered  tlic  divine  Master 
to  be  crucified  by' the  licathcn.  now  directed  tlieir  fury 
against  j^^is  disciplcij.     Tlie  Council  ordered  tliem  to  be 


Tlic  C'liuillxuiii. 


imprisoned,  f()i-l)ado  them  to  preach  tiio  gosj)el,  liad  thoni 
scourgedy'uiiil  sent  .Jewish  minions  into  every  town  and 
rural  district  to  find  out  the  faithful  and  to  l)ring  them 
in  chains  to  Jenisiilcm.  It  was  the  .Fews  who  stoned  St. 
Stephen,  who  cfTccted  the  death  of  St.  .Tames  the  elder, 
slew  St.  .lanu's  J  he  Less,  incited  the  heathen  mob  at 
Lystra  to  stone  St.  Paul;  and  it  was  th(>y  wlio  afterwards 
sent  this  Ajjostle  in  chains  to  Ca'sari^a  to  'a|)])ear  and 
answer  before  pagnn  judges.      Hut  the  measure  was  soon 


^Bsmtm^msmam 


PERSECUTIO.XS    FUOM    THE   JE\V8. 


247 


filled,  and  the  day  of  vengeance  dawned  at  last  over  the 
deicide  city  of  Jei^usalem.     The  blood  of  the  prophets,  the 
blood  of  the  world's  liedeemGr,  and  of  his  saints,  must' 
be  avenged,  and  the  dreadful  prophecies  of  Christ  must 
be  fulfilled. 

.The  instrument!^,  clwsen  to  infiict,  this  chastisement 
U])on  the  Jews  were  tlje  Romans;  whose  forces,  under  the 
command  of  Titus,  in  the  year  ?0,  besieged  the  doomed 
eui)ital;  whose  inhabitants,  deceived  by  false  prophets, 
had  risen  m  rebellion  against  the  imperial  government. 
The  sufferings  undergone  by  the  peoi)le  of  the  beleaguered 
.  town  during  tiie  three  months'  siege,  have  hardly  a  paral- 
lel in  history;  being  "such  U-i.bu)ations  as  were  not  from" 
the  beginning  of  the  citation." 

The  sword  and  arrow  of  fhc  enemy  from  the  walls,  the 
wild  and  murderous  gangs  m  tlie  city  itself,  the  poisonous 
effluvia  of  contagious  diseases,  and  awful  famine,  all  com- 
bined to  i)roduce   a   dreadfully  abundant  death-harvest. 
Seven  and  thirty  years  before  had  the  Son  of  Man  shed 
tears  over    this  cUy.  j.nd  foretold   the  destruction  wiiich 
has  no\V  come  upon  it.     "  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  if  tliou 
also  hadst  ki\own,  and   that  in  this  thy  day,  the  things 
that  are  to  thy  peace;  but  now  tliey  iire'luddc^n  from  thy 
eyes.     For    (he   days   sliall    coma  ui.on    (bee,  and  thine 
enemies  shall  cast  a  trench  about  thee,  and  compass  thee 
^rouud,  and  threaten  tliee  on  every  side,  and  beat  thee  flat 
to  the  ground,  au<l  thy  children  who  are  in  thee,  and  they  . 
shall  not  leave  in  thee  a  stone  upon  a  st^ne,  because  thou 
hast  not  known  the  tmie  of  thy  visitation.    -Woo  U>them 
thafc  are  with  child  and  give  suck  in  those' davs,  for  there 
shair-be  .great  distress  m  the  land,  and  wrath   upon   this 
peopjo.     They  shall  fall  by  tl^e  edge  of  the   sword,  and 
Hhall  be  led  away  captives  into  all  luifion-  and  Jerusalem 
shall  be  trodden  down  l)y  the  Cenliles.  till  the  times  of 
the  nations  be  fultilled." 

^'j'^Lli''*^    '^''^"'   '^'^^''  'J'i'J^Ji^""^    ^viL!iLL„.i!lH'biaev, 


V 


iij 


K„'i   ,< 


III 


ilit. 


248  CHRIST  IN  iiis^BfruRcii. 

i 

closed  their, ears  to  these  dread  prophecies  of  Christ,  and 
noAv  the  measure  of  their  guilt  is  overflowing  and  their 
punishment  overwhelming.  Not  a  spark  of  human  feel- 
ing seems  to  be  left  alive  in  their  hearts,  for  mothers  feed 
upon  the  flesh  of  their  children.  Hundreds  of  thousands 
of  her  citizens  were  slain,  or  carried  into  captivity.  The 
city,  with  its  magnificent  temple,  was  burned"  to  the 
ground,  and  even  the  few  remaining  .foundations  were 
thrown  down  by  Titus.     Such  was  the  puHishmcnt  sent 


ii. 


-         .     CTiristianity  departs  from  Jcnisalem. 

by  Heaven  on  the  first  i)oi-s(H;ul()rs  of  tlir  Cliunli.  The 
chosen  ci(y  of  Cod,  the  hoivrn-favorcd  Jerusalem,  tlie 
cradle  of  Cliristiaiiity,  was  roducod  to  rums;  wliHe  Cliris- 
,-^^nity,  shaking  the  dnst  fi-otu  her  feet,  jiiid  taking  with 
"*  '  all  her  lUessiiigs,  her  heavenly  peace,  and  hei-  hoi)es  of 
^on,  wont  forth  from  the  ruins,  to.  traverse  the  earth, 
to 'enlighten  and.  comfort,  and  bring  salvation  to  tlie 
heathen  peoples  who  sat  in  darkness  and  in  flic  shadow  of 
desiKmding  s])iritmil  death. 


-*; 


TEX   ROMAN   PERSECUTIONS. 


249 


8i.  The  Ten  Roman  Persecutions. 

"Behold,  I  send  you  as  slieep  in  the  midst  of  wolves.  You 
shall  be  brought  before  governors  aiul  before  kings  for  my  siike,  for 
a  testimony  to  them  and  to  the  gentiles."— Mattiip:w  x.  16,  18. 

The  persecutions  wliicli  tlie  Cliurcli  stiffered  at  the 
hands  of  tlie  pagan  emperors- of,  Rome  were  far  more 
cruel  and  protracted 


and  widespread  than 
those  infli<!ted  by  the 
Jews.     Indeed,   dur- 
ing   the    first    three 
centuries  tiie  confiict 
between    tlie    powers 
of     Eonie     and    the 
struggling  Christians 
was  almost  continual. 
Hence  that  period  is 
specially    known    as 
the  "  age  of  martyr- 
dom."     From-   time 
immcinorial  the   Ro- 
man   emperors    iiad 
considered    them- 
selves both  a'S   high- 
})riests    of   j^aganism 
and  as  su[)reme  rul- 
ers both  in  religious 
and    tcm))oi-al    mat- 
ters.     Ilencp    they 
looked    ujx)!!    them- 
selves as  at  tacked  and 


Nero. 


defied  in  their  most  cherished  rights  by  the  *'king<lom  of 
Christ,"  which  cannot  know  or  recognize  aiiv  authority 
\  snperior  to  itself.     Moreover,  the  imperial  greatness  and 

f ---.ll!Jiy<lL,JMJ^^\eatmeitiim-e>^-^^^^^^ 


!  ? 


i '  B' 


250 


CHRIST   IN- ills   CHURCH. 


it:  I 


ii:l! 


^-^ 


to  idolatry,  with  which  it  had  grown  u])  into  gigantic  power 
and  majesty.     Hence  it  often   happened  that  enii)erors, 
who  in  other  respects  were  mild  and  gentle,  became  like 
roaring  lions  when  brought  in  contact  with  the  Christians. 
During  the  greater  i)ortion  of  this  "age  of  martyr- 
dom" in  the  Church,  namely  from  the  year  U  U)  the  year 
313,  history  presents  to  our  view  ten  emperors,  who  were 
the  chief  persecutors  of  tiie  followers  of  Christ.     These 
were:  Nero,  from  54  to  08;    Domitian,   from   81   to  90- 
Trajan,  from  98  to  117;  Adrian,  from  117  to  138;  Marcus 
Aurehus,  from  161  to  180;  Sei)timius  Severus,  from  193  to 
211;  Maximinian  of  Thrace,   from  235  to  238;    Decius 
from  249  to  251;  Valerian,  from  253  to  2G0;  Diocletian 
and  his  agents,  from  284  to  313. 

Injustice,  cruelty,   malignant  hatred,   diabolical  lust: 
all  the  evil  passions  that  slumber  m  the  iiuman  breast, 
seem  to  have  formed  a  conspiracy,  and  into  this  conspiracy 
to  have  taken  hell  with  all  its  malice,  for  the  solo  purpose 
of  destroying  Christianity.      Cliildron.   old   men,   tender 
maidens  and  gentle  matrons,  peasants  and  high  diginta- 
ries,  were  dragged  before  the  judgment-seat  of  the  em%i-or 
or  of  his  representative  officer;    and   when    flattcrv  and 
promises   had    no    effect    upon    their    faith,    they"  were 
stretched  on  the  nick,  lacerated  with   iron    hooks',  burnt 
at    the   stake,    beheaded,    crucified,   droM^icd,   or   buried 
alive,  scalded  to  death    in    caldrons  of   seething   oil,   or 
molten   lead  ;    showing    that  ^(^hrist   still    lived,    in  '  his 
Church,   a  martyr's  life.     Those  Christians  who  as  yet 
had  evaded  death  and  imprisonment,   took  great  pain^ 
to  purchase  fnmi  the  executioners  the  martvrs'  remm us. 
and  with  touching  and  loving  solicitude  deposited  them 
m  the  Catacombs.     Then  might  be  seen  manv  a  group  of 
prayerful  Christians,  gathered  in  silence  in  the  darksome 
vault,  and  by  the  uncertain  light  of  a  single  torch,  paying 
their  last  respects  to  a  martyred  brother  or  sister,  blessing 
the  sacred  remains,  and  going  forth  only  to  be  themselves 


imiBiB^ 


■I 


PERSECITTIONS   BY   THE   EASTERIf   EMPERORS.      251 

brought  back  the  next  day  and  placed  side  by  side  with 
the  one  whom  they  had  just  left.  The  martyr's  blood  in 
which  Christianity  was  to  be  extinguished  became  the 
seed  of  new  Christians.  Wiule  thousands  of  heroes  and 
heroines  of  faitli  and  charity  fell  dead  on  the  field,  mil- 
lions nished  in  to  till  up  the  ranks,  and  in  then-  turn  fall 
in  defence  of  truth;  thus  proving  that  the  life  of  Jesus 
Christ  did  not  close  on  Calvary,  nor  even  on  Tabor,  but 
that  iie  still  lives,  although  ])ersecuted  unto  death,  immor- 
tal and  unconquerable  m  his  Church  for  all  time.  The 
survivors  of  the  martyi*s  were  careful  to  record  quite  fully 
and  accurately  the  lives,  caj)ture,  imjirisonment,  trials, 
and  executions  of  then-  slaughtered  brethren."  These  rec- 
ords are  still  extant,  and  arc  known  to  scholars  as  the 
''Acts  of  the  Martyrs.";  They  form  one  of  the  most 
tender  and  edifying  chapters  in  the  history  of  the  Church. 
When  the  Roman  empire,  after  havi%  spent  its  forces 
against  the  Christians,  became  powerless  for  further  oppo- 
sition, it,  too,,  met  its  chastisement.  Countless  tribes  of 
savages  from  the  remote  and  unknown  north  of  Europe 
invaded  its  territories,  overran  the  empire  with  tire  and 
sword,  and  in  470  drove  tlic  last  emperor  of  the  West, 
Romulus  Augustulus,  from  the  throne. 


I  I  ii 


'   Ii 


I 


i-Hl 


t  I 


82.  Persecutions  by  the  Emperors  of  the  East. 

"God  hath  phiced  bishops  to  rule  tlie  Church  of  God."— Acts 
OF  THE  Apostles  xx.  28. 

Less  bloody,  but  more  dangerous  and  wicked,  were 
the  i)ersecutions  undergone  by  the  Church  at  the  hands 
of  the  emperors  of  the  East;  at  Cojistantinoplc.  Most  of 
these  men  were  unworthy  successors  of  Constantino  the 
Great;  and  being  addicted  to  Arianism  and  other  errors 
and  vices,  they  were  constantly  interfering  in  ecclesiastical 
affairs.     They  even  j)resumed  t,o  issue  ecclp.mnstir-itl  d^^^rees 


/P 


252 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


and  formal  declanitions  of  faitli;  and  woo  to  the  bishops  and 
priests  wlio  would  dare  to  oppose  them.     They  would  be 
deposed  from  their  office,  banished,  imprisoned,  beheaded 
or  strangled.     The  patriarchs  of  Constantinople  ospeciallv 
were  required  to  render  blind  obedience  to  the /Emperors 
and  to  become  the  tools  of  their  imperial  whims  in  reli- 
gious affairs.     While    some   few   submitted    tamely    the 
greater  numl^r  withstood  manfully  this  invasion  of  their 
rights  of  conscience,  and  beclmo  mar"E^rs  in  the  cause  of 
apostolic  freedom,  as  became  faithful  shepherds.     Such  a 
conflict  existed  during  the  time  of  the  Iconoclasts,  when 
the  emperors  Leo  the  Isaurian,  Constantino  Copronymous 
Leo  the  Armenian,  Michael  the  Stammerer,  and  Theophi- 
us  endeavored  to  do  away  with  the  veneration  of  images 
by  torturing  and  murdering  its  defenders 

These  persecutors  of  the  Church  did  not  escape  the 
chastisement  of  lieavon.  For  while  they  were  disputing 
on  Church  affairs,  the  Persians  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
Barbanans  on  the  other,  wrested  fr.,m  their  possession  the 
so-called  Greek  i)o,)odom,  tUl  finally  the  Turks  and  Sara- 
cens completely  overturned  forever  the  rotten  throne  of 
uie  Jbiustern  emj)]re.  •  "  ''^C  ,,■ 


83.  Persecutions  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

"Then  Jesus  saith  to  then,;  Ren.ler  therefore  to  Osiir  tl>c 
t  ings  that  are  Cesar's;  and  to  God,  tl,e  things  that  arc  God  s  "^ 
Matthew  xxii   21  ""  .uiu  vjou  s.  — 

During  the  middle  ages,  many  kings  and  princes  of 
western  Europe  assumed  the  right  to  interfere^in  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Church,  and  became  its  bitterest  enemies 
and  persecutors.  They  often  nominated  unworthy  men 
to  vacant  bishoprics,  and  by  artifice  and  violence'  sought 
to  have  them  aiipointed  and  consecrated.  The  contro- 
versy about  investitures  between  the  popes  and  bishops 


jggggg^gg^gg^gggg^gggg^ggg^ 


■■ 


■■BBBBl 


PERSECUTIONS   IN   THE   MIDDLE   AGES.         253 

on  one  side,  mid  the  kings  of  Gorniiiily,  France,  and  Eng- 
land on  the  other,  histed  from  1074  till  1122.  The  most 
crafty  and  powerful  of  these  enemies  was  Henry  IV   * 


Henry  IV.  at  Canossa. 


Emperor  of  Germany  who,  after  making  his  submission 
Ht  tanossa  (o  Pope  Gregory  VTI.,  soon  after  violated  his 
promises  ni   the  most  disgraoefnl   manner,   tlij^uffhtv 
•Henry  II.  of  England,  and   Philip  the   Fair  ofTrance 
])erseculed  the  Church  and  h.r  ministers,  and  trampled 

*  Canossa  was  a  stron.trly  fortified  castle,  belongniir  to  the  noble 
marcluonoss,  Matilda  of  Tuscany.  Henry  IV.  can.o  to  this  place  of 
ms  own  free  will,  as  a  penitent,  to  rertMve  from  the  Pope  absolution 
irom  the  sentence  of  excommunication.  Frivolous  and  superficial 
jvnlers  pretend  to  see  in  this  iiroceeding  a  proof  of  the  Pope's  thirst 
ror  power,  and  an  instance  of  his'hard-heailedn^^s.  But  even  many 
1  rotestant  writers  of  int.eilig.^>nce  and  discernment  have  acknowl" 
eci^td  that  the  proceeding  redounds  to  the  credit  of  Pope  Gregory 
VI.,  who  showed  himself  a  strong  defender  of  principle,  m  opposi- 
tion  to  an  ambitious,  yet  weak  ami  v.ciUntmg  king  -^' 


'^1  ! 

*  ! 

T  ■ 

1- 

'1 

■ir 


f 


V      -I 


iii 


M 


CIIKIST   IX    HIS    CHURCH. 


i^ :! 


ui)(>n  her  rights.     Many  ei)iscoi)al  chairs  wore,  dishonored 
by  interlopers  whom  these  nionarchs,  of  tlicir  own  accord, 
created  bishoi)s,  while  many  monasteries  were  spiritually 
and  temporall^i-uined  l^y  their  so-called  lav  abbots;  that 
18,  by  men  who,  without  ecclesiastical  training,  and  sonie- 
tmies  even  without  holy  orders,  were  i)romoted  bv  their 
sovereigns  to  the  dignity  of  abbots  in  reward  for  Services 
rendered  to  the  State.*   These  men  appointed  substitutes 
,  ^x)  exercise  the  dutfes  of  abbot,  while  they  themselves,  liv- 
ing sometimes  in  the  monastery^  but  oftener  out  of  it, 
squandered.its  revenues  in  profligacy  and  dissi])ation.  • 
*      Amid   the  struggles  and  persecutions  of  those  times 
the  name  of  St.  Thomas  a  Becket,  Archbishoi)  of  Canter- 
bury, IS  the  only  one  we  have  room  to  mention  from  the 
long  catalogneof  the  defenders  of  the  Church.     Henry  II. 
King  of  England,  had  ])romo1ed  Ihjs  gentle  and  cultured 
man  to  the  dignity  of  lord  chancellor:  m  the  h()i)e  of  mak- 
mg  him  a  tool  for  the  furtherance  of  nefarious  designs. 
Bufe  when  the  king  at(emi)ted  to  invade  the  rights  of^he 
Church,;jhe  holy  archbishop  relmked  and  thwarted  him. 
The  saint  ])referred  to. incur  tiie  king's  displ.-asure,  and  to' 
be  banished  by.^enti'iice  of  the  high  (;ourt,  rather  than  to 
])rove  untrue  to  hi.^.iscopal  dignity.     The  king  seemed  to 
regret  his  unjust   p/oceedmg,  and   permitted  St.  Thomas 
to  return   to  his  diocese.     But   not   long  afterward  some 
courtiei;s-and  friends  of  Henry sh^v  the  Wishop  at  tlie  altar"'' 
of  his  cathedral.    ."  Cheerfully  I  sulTer  death  for  Godl' 
Church.?  he  said  to  the  execniioners  as  thev  were  alx.ut 
to  strrkCoff  ]m  head.     He  died  on  the  2()th  of  D.rember  " 

1 1  :o. 


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MODEKX    PEIISECTTIONS. 


'255 


84.  Mddern  Persecutions. 

"Many  have  abused  unto  pride  the  goodness  of  princes,  and  the 
lionor  that  hath  been  bestowed  upon  them,  and  not  only  endeavor 
to  oppress  the  subjects,  but  to  viohite  the  hiws  of  iiuimiuity."— 
ESTMEII  xvi.  ^ 

Tho  false  ])riiicii)le  udvocatod  by  the  i-eformers  of  the 
.Mxteentli  century,  that  tlie  civjl  rulers  are  tiie  proper 
authorities  in  religious  m/itters,  led  lo-eruel  perseeuti(^n 
at  the  time  of  the  lieformatKJU,  and  for  centuries  later. 

This  interference  in  Church  affairs  on  the  part  of  tho 
ciyil  i)ower  was  jiugmenied  to  an  alarming  extent/    Tho* 
reformers,  on   the   one   hand,   in  order   to  forward   their 
cause,  sought  the  hel[)  of  the  jjriiVes,  and  in  return  for 
their  ])rotection,  surrendered   to  them  many  of  tho  most 
'fiacred  rights  and  privileges  of  tiie  Church.'    These  rene»' 
gji^c  princes  often  employed  lire  and  sword  to  force  their 
subjects  into  the  new  religion.     On  .the  other  hand,  those 
princes  who  remained  Catholics  and  ])rytected  their  sub- 
jects against  heretical  innovations,  claimed  to  be  thejndis-- 
pensable  guardians  of  t^he  Churcji.;  and   under  pretext,  of 
protecting    it,   and    improving    gradually    its  Condition, 
assumed  every  imaginable  authoriiy.     They  discontinued 
many  episcopal  sees,  closed  several  convents  for  the  mere 
purpose  of  approprhatmg  their  revenues  to  their  own  pri- 
vate nsQ,  and  by  means  of  ww  laws  injured  the  freedom 
of  the  Clnirch   V(mt   materially.      Thus.'  for  example,  the 
Orerman   emperor.   Joseph    II..   oppressed    the  Cl*ureh    iii   ■ 
some  of   her  most    sacied   right*  from  1 7S()  to  1  TOO.     Tie 
suppressed    monasteries.forbade  pilgrimages  and  '))roces- 
sioiis,  and  restricle<l    the  ceremonies  pven   at  mass.*     Tn 
order  to  place  fho  Church  at  the  foot  of  the  tht^ono,  he 

•  Ilonre  tho  Protcsliint" Frederick  the  Orent  styled  hini  "  Brother 


m 


I 


I  »*!'•• 


256 


CHftiRT   IN   Illfl   CHURCH. 


assumed  the  direction  of  ccclesiustical  seminaries,  and  the 
training  of  candidates  for  the  priestliooJ. 

In  the  year  1790  a  fearful  storm  burst  over  the  Cliurch 
in  France.  Tlie  sueeessful  revolutionists  confiscated  ull 
the  property  of  the.  Church,  und  cKm^d  all  the  convents 
and  monasteries.     Priests  who  refused  to  subscribe  to  the 


vu)lent  measures  of  tlio  new  government  were  seiutrinto exile 

-    or  put  (o  death.      After  the  execution  of  King  Louis  XVI 

in  .knuui^.  170.^  Christianity  was  declared  abolished,  the 

•^       so-culled  go<ldess  of  r^ison  was  set  Uj)  in  (hV  chureheH.  and 

the  blood  of  the  faid.ful  ran  likeVivei'w  over  tlie  soil  ot 

^>anee.     The  fathor  of  Christendom,   ]»ius  VI.,  died  m 

exile  in  August,  17!)1), 


THE   CIITrRCII   AND   M0D7<:RN   GOVERNMENTS.       257 

When,  in  1801,  a  concordat  was  agreed  upon  between' 
Pius  Yir.  and  Nal)oloon  I.,  the  oppression  of  the  Church 
seemed  to  be  at  an  end.  But  persecution  soon  raised  its 
head  again,  and  Pius  VII.,  deeming  it  necessary  and  ijroper 
to  refuse  his^  consent  to  the  extravagant  and  unliwful 
demands  of  Najjoleon,  and  finding  himself  at  last  com- 
pelled to  excommunicate  Oie  em])eror,  was  brought  a  })ris- 
oner  to  France,  where  lie^ remained  four  long,  tedious 
years  in  ignominious  confinement,  til^^tlic  defeat  of  Napo- 
leon at  Lei])sic. 


85.  The  Church  an*  the   Governments  in  Modern 

Times. 

"  If  tlioii  your  (Icliirlit  Ik;  in  Uiroiics  uiid  sccplrcs,  <)  yc  kings  of 
the  people,  love  wisdom  tliiit  you'^liiiy  icii,r,i  foirver  "- Wihuom 
vi.  22. 

Napoleon  I.,  having  fallen  ff-'oni  the  pinnacle  of  i)()wer. 
was  hihiself  exiled  to  the  island  of'tSt.  Helena,  where  he 
died  on  the  r)tl.  of  May,  18;»1;  while  tlie  l\)j)e,  released 
from.  })rison,  returned  in  triunfpli"  to  the  Eterniil  City. 
The  crime  committed  by  this  oi^;e  powerful  emperor 
against  the  Vicar  of  Christ  \yiis  avenge(^n  the  snows  (.f 
inissJA.*  His  nephew,  Napofeon  III.,  ulstT learned  by  hard 
experience  that  (J(m1  does  not  ^lermit  his 'Church  to  be 
persecuted  with  imi)unity.'  After  having  f(#  many  years 
l»hiyed  a  game  of  double  dealing  between  the  Vicar  of 
Christ  and  the  KevolutionistH,  he  at  last  shuwed  his  true 
colors,    and    withdrew    from    lionu)    the    l-nMieh    soldiers 

*When   Popp.Pius  Vn.  uttered  the  sentence  of  excy.niinnnien 
tion    npiinsl    Napoleon,     he    limgliin<i;ly    itKinired     of    his    otUeeis 
whether  tills  Hentenee  would  piimlyze   tlio  arnis of  his  luiive  sol 
tlierH?     It  In  reiuiirkiiltle  tlnit   the  liistory  ()f  liis  l^ussiaii  (  MtnoMiini 
myn:   "The   iiileiiHe  cohl   cnused  the  iirnis  Ui   drop    I'mni    the   he    / 

IUlllllH.'d  illHuli;  tif  t-liii  Kiililitiru  "  '  ■■  "j^        ^ 


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CHRIST   IN    III8   CHURCH. 


piaml  ther^  %  the  French  nation  to  protect  Pius  the 
Ninli.  But-  On  the  very  day,  when  the  first  detachment 
of  his  sol^iei'^  left  Rome,  the  4th  of  August,  1870,  France 
.  lost  the  battle  of  W^dssenbur^^  On  the  2d  of  September^ 
the  tenth  annivt/sary  of  his  treacherous  alliance  with 
Victor  Emmanuel  against  the  Pope,  he  lost  crown  and 
freedom,  to  die  in  exile  three  years  later. 

Most  trying  persecutions  overtook  the  Church  in  Italy, '. 
tr    and,  indeed,  in  most  European  countries,  during  the  sub-' 
sequent  years.  . 

Have  princes  and  would-be  statesmen'  i)rofited  by  these 
examples?     Alas!    the  history  of   tile  Church  in  modern      ^ 
days  speaks  the  contrary;  and  even  ttf-day,«men  in  power- 
seem  to  find  no  other  enemv  to  meet  in  battle  but  the 
Church  of  Clir^.        "  .  '- 

The  religious  houses  arc  the  next  point  of  attacl^  for 
the  i^ersecutionists.  These  sacred  and^  peaceful  retreats, 
and  seats  (xf  piety  and  learning,  seem  to  be  objects  pf 
special  dislike  io  the  demon  of  unbelief.  By  means  of 
falsehoo|,  ridi/iile,  and  Ciilumny,  the  unsuspecting  people 
are  firs!  prejudiced  against  these  religious  instituti()iw,_-~- 
and  then,  when  the  measures  are  all  taken,  and  the  ])eople 
.  are  demoralized,    the   mighty   ones    in    the  government, 

.  under  pretence  of  its  being  the  ptn^^e's  wish,  and  that 
tli#*good  of  the  State  requires  it,  |)n)C(>NJ(()  the  ruthless 
invasion  and  supi)ression()f  these  sacred  abodes  of  faith, 
learning,  and  charity.  The  old  consecrated  halls,  the 
products  of  our  forcfalh(>rs'  geiuMosity,  are  then  perverted 
into  penitentiaries,  factories,  or  insane  asylums.  In 
many  places,  the  freedom  of  bisho|)s  and  pastors  in  the 
exercise  of  their  duties  is  restrained  by  iniquitous  laws; 
while  the  State,  although  publicly  and  fundaincntally 
proclaiming  its  disbelief  in  all  religions,  still  would  arro- 
gate to  itself  the  selection  and  appointment  ofj'astors  of 
souls.  The  Church,  that  ancient  and  experieii^'d  school- 
mistress of  nations,  is  rudely  and  un'justly  deprived  of  her 

■',^> 


/.<**- 


THE    OIIUKGn    AND    MODEKX   OOVEKNMENTS.      259 

right  to  direct  the  schools^,  and  for  no  other  purpose  than 
to  keep  tike  tender  childrlen)  whom  the  Saviour  would 
have  to  come  to  him,  in  ignorance  of  the  doctrines  and 
.precepts  of  that  same  divine  friend  of  youth..  In  the 
-  colleges  and  universities,  founded  and  su])ported  as  they 
have  been  from  the  re.yenues  of  the  Churches,  and  by  the 
generous  becjuests  of  our  Catholic  ancestors,  we  see  the 
highest  and 'most  .important  })ositions  intrusted  to  men 
of  no  belief,  in  order  that  our.future  lawyers,  pkysicians, 
'.  and  statesmen  nuiy  imbil)e  in  the  very  bloom  of  their, 
youth  the  poison  of  godlessness  and  of  hatred  forji'eligion. 
By  thq,  enactment  of  unprincipled  and  unconstitutional 
laws,. marriage,  which  is  the  very  foundatioirOf  all  society, 
is  stripped,  of  its  sublime  cliaracter  of  a  Sacrament, -rwtid 
reduced  J:o  the  level  of  a  more  civil  contract. 

Moreover,  whilst   governments   and    law-makers  thus 
circumscribe,  oppress,  and  ])ersecute  the  Church  and  re- 
ligion, they  concede  to  an  evil  press  the  most  unrestricted 
license,    and   in"  many,  instances   aiTord   it   governmental 
assistance  and  jjrotection  at  the  expense  of  the  tax{)ayers. 
Countless  C()|)ies   of  uni)rincij)led   nowspaikTs,  of  tracts, 
l)amphlcts,  almanacs,  and  nuigazines  arc  circulated  from 
.    house  to  hoiise^.     The  unsus])ecting  head  of  a  famjlv  is 
-^  l)ejsuaded  that  it  is  a  ])ro()f  of  education,  and  very  ntn^- 
sary  to  his  success  in  life^  to  read  the  advanced  newsj^^r 
of  the  day  and  to  cause  fi^children  ti)  do  the  same.     And 
alas!  what  are  the  ordinary  contents  of  these  so-called  pro- 
gressive journals?     They  con  tiff  n,  the  poison  of  e^'il  and 
soul-destroying  princi|)les.  the  llSp^of  "(J)sceno  anecdotes 
and  indecent  stories;  ridicule  for  tHu'  (-Ijurch.i^fiBp  even 
fornuil  blasphemy.     Many  a  OlTi^stian.  bliiuled  ^rihe  bvil 
spirit  of  the  tinu>s,  |)jw'8  for  t'Mt*  liteniiure  with  money 
earned   by  the  .sweat   of  his  l)row,   aiul   yet  hopes'  and 
intends  to  be  able  .to  die  a  good  Christian  and  a  true 
Catholic.  •         . 


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260 


I, 


citRisT  i:n^-  his  ci^uRcir. , 


Ninth,  and  his  ilhistrious  suc(M'or,  Leo  XIII.,  have  rai^r^^ 
tlioir  voices  ii^  sblemn  i);-otest|^ainst  these  persecutioP'"^' 
of  religion  oii  the  part  ^  governments,  of  ^false  |^ienc«p^.« 
,and  of  an  miprincii)!^^  press,     ^nd  whj«^  r^i^rn  fid  tlfc 
•Vicars  of  OlUFJst  meefi\;ith?    T^e  othdfimt  th^jmo^^ 
thafc  was  made  long  ago  to  .  Jesuf |iChi-isl^|fe  Kiu^of    ,/ 
Mar<^|  and-  to  St.   Stephen^.^Mirstli}i^^im^aiift.^^ 
niaiftkW<:rf  the  Chur<)^i,     As  the  J^apf  old  %oK'''|Sk  v    ;  I  '^-^^ 
of-  Ihoiworlf^ '  ,#&n.  ihe,c\fy  of  Jcrusal(J;#»'  ""-^ 

xion^'^tiij  they 'drag^d^l/^^ 
'^.pi'clcr  to  stone  him  to^ 
;a^e  the  great  i)owors  flf 
llevolutioiiary  elemeif%jf' 
to  exjTOl  the  Popo  fr^ 


Ste^heij;( 
death;  "^'iVf* 
tnc  ea*uk.4'ij»; 


so(%ty;  la 

the  I%r  cli!^^^^ei-j  if  order 'that  he  too  niight'findS 
Calvary. aiid,,«fcath;'^for,"  say  they,  "with  the  Pap^ 
fapB  the  Chi^h;  and  with  the  Ohiirch  the, whole  reliffioi 
-^'trQSus.Chris^'.''       ■'  .  .'...■  ^.   ^ 

'    S^icl^  Ijati  bofi  the  history  bf  the  Chnrch  for  eigliteerf 

.  ^"^^^^  :fears.     Fire  and  sword  Jiave  been  directed  against  |. 

^^     i^'"^^'  g*>vcrnments  hav9  oi)])osed^.her;  false  science 

•woi^l^ar, her  with  its  teeth;  dipl^miacy  has  laid  ])lans 

'  for  hqr  destruction  ;    cahinmy   Av^ould    blacken    her   fair 

^ne, .  und    even    (lish)yal    ])ri,ci^ts   have   given    her    tiie 

tmcherotis  kiss  of  Judas.,     And   u()w  let   us  raise   our 

Dyes  and  scan  the  liori/on  of  the  world '«  .history.    .Can  wo 

•find  ill,  any  age,  *pr.  in   part  of  the  world,  an  institution 

whif!h  h'fi's  been  so  porsisteiidy  opi)osed  as  has  been  the' 

CaHiolia  Church?    Nowhere^  nowhere*.     Well  then,  in  this 

"^|!^i''i"<''('d,  uiibn)k(Mi  persecution,  we  discover  an  incon 

testm^jeand  undeniabh'  proof,  thiit  in  the  Cathol^ic  Chu 

doth  burn,  really  and  truly  and  brighlly,  that  div'ine  Li 

which  the  darkness  of  the  world  has  hated  fro 

ginni^lg;  that  Christ  whaffijic  world  did  hail  to 


but  who,  in  the  very  da«3HP)iour  of  his  tri^ils,  onj 
of  his  death,  ex tendcitj  his  arms  over  his  faithful  fol 


• 


THE    CHUECIl   A^D   MODEK^'    GOVEKNMEKTS.      261 

saying  to  them,  with  courage  and  r^iunce  upon' God  : 
"Amen,  amen,  I  say  to  you  that  you  shall  lament  and 
WQep,  but  the  world  shall  rejoice;  and  you  shall  be  mait^ 
sorrowful,  but  yoan-  sorrow  shall  be  turned  into  joy.  Have 
conijdencc:  I  have  overcome  the  world." 


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CHAPTER  X. 


m 


THE  TRIUMPH  AND  GLORY  OF  THE 
CATHOLIC   CHURCH. 


JESUS    CIIIIIST  LIVES   IX    HIS    CHURCH  AS  THE  GLORIFIED 

CONQUEROR. 


86.  The  Triumphant  Existence  of  Nearly  Nine- 
teen Hundred  Years. 

*'  If  this  be  the  work  of  men,  it  wilt  come  to  nimght:  but  if  it 
be  of  God,  you  cannot  ovcrfhrow  it."— Acts  uf  the  Ai'ostles  v.'db. 

rr^IIE  congrcgatioi>  6f  all  the  Faitliful  on  earth  consti- 
J-  tiites  the  Church  militant  or  struggling.  The  glorified 
Elect  in  heavon  form  the  Church  triumphant.  In  each 
division  of  the  Church  Christ  is  the.  centre.  As  tw* 
Saviour,  during  hi:^  sojourn  on  eartii,  sometimes  mani- 
fested his  divine  power  in  the  midst  of  his  liumiliation?*, 
ignoiiiiny  and  i)ersecution,  so,  too,  in  the  Church  mili- 
tant, on  earth,  the  triumph  of  Christ  over  his  enen^ies 
is  sometimes  very  positive  and  palpahle. 

Of  all  these  triumphs,  the  most  obvious  and  unquejj- 
tionahle  is  the  prolonged  and  successful  life  of  his  Church 
for  now  nearly  nineteen  hundred  years.  Great  teacher.^ 
and  ])hilosophers  in  the  world  have  meanwhde  gathered ^^ 
discii)le3  about  them  and  founded  celebrated  systems  iiiid, 
schools.  All  iiave  disappeared.  Ambitious  men  have  dis- 
torted divine  revelation,  and  founded  for  a  time  ]K)worfiil 
and  influential  sects!  These  exist  no  longer.  cxce])t  iis 
-ihe  dry  biunoh^^s^  rfr  wiil^retl  i*«#.     M}g4i4y  her^>ejg  liav^i  ^ 


CENTURIES   OF   TRIUMPHANT   EXISTENCE.      263 

\ 
fought  their  waj  to  immovable  tlii-oues,  and  founded  ])roud 
and  haughty  dynasties.  They  have  perished,  and  a:e  for- 
gotten. Provinces  and  chins  of  people  have  confederated 
together,  and  formed  miglity  kingdoms  and  common- 
wealths. They  have  become  dismembered,  leaving  only 
their  name  to  history.  Amid  all  these  unceasing  changes 
m  human  affairs,  only  one  Power  hastemained  unchanged 
and    unchangeable   during   the   long   period   of   eighteen 


Christ  Triiimpliing  over  Death  and  Hell. 

Imndred  years  and  nioi'e.     One  only  kingdom  lias  insisted 

<liss(ilu!ion.  and  defied  destrnci ion.     That  is  the  kinudom 

"f  Ohrist,  the  Catholic  (Muirch. 

ilTnoll^^h  ''>^di:is  been  growth.  de*-elopment,  advance- 

nient,.  Vet  .tij^||Ph*is    been    no   change.     To    those  self- 
same   doctiiiTef  of   faith    in    whieh    the  early    Christians' 
■^"luid  such   comforV,  the   Ciiurch.  with   her  two  Imndred 


264 


CHEIST  IN  HIS  CHURCH. 


i! 


clings  with  invinciM.||H||yis.  The  self-same  sacri- 
fice whicli  was  ofp^^i^^e  catacombs  is  still  offered 
111  all  the  Catholi^piurches  througlxout  the  world.  The 
same  seven  sacraments  which  sancja-fied  our  forefathers 
make  us,  to-day,  partakers  in  the  atonement  of  Christ. 
Around  the  present  reigning  Pon|;^jp|iWl|. ,  th^  multi- 

Yude  of  believers  gather,  animaicTwith.  tlje  same  Sbnti- 
ments  of  obedience  that  moved  the  Apostles  and  the  other 
^'"■^^-  C^M«tians  to  gather  about  St.  Peter.  Another 
evideiice»«at  the  power  and  influence  of  the  Church  are 
still  updfuinished,  may  bo  seen  in  tlie  fact  that  nSt  only 
Cathc^,  but  more  especially  heretics  and  atheists,  in 
their  w|itings  and  in  their  i)ublic  measures,  alwuvs  cohsider 

.  and  recognize  tju^  existence  of  the  Catholic  Church/ 

[' The  Lion  (fl  Judah  hath  conquered," and  hesliall  ever 
continue  to  conSqucr  and  triumph  ifi  liis  Chui^v  till  he 
••  attain  the  last  and  greatest  crowning  victory  fin  the  day  of 
judgment.  Cai:]^triero  be  any  more  wonddfiul,  glorious, 
decisive,  and  conViV||;ing  victory  on  thei^tu-t  of  the  Church 
than 'the  plain  and"  obvious  fact  of  her  jit-eSent  existence 
among  men,  without  a  cliange  jm  lier  doctrine  or  in  her 
•nature— as  full  of  life  and  ft^utlful  vigor  a^,  in  the  days 
of  the  Apostles,  diluting, oind  colisqlingthe' hearts  and 
soul-s  of  millions  of  ^nobiit  and  best  of  men?  Is  not 
iier  very  existence  u])on   earth  a  crowning  victory,  after 

.^Mghteen  hundred  yoar.s^,e  most  deadly  opj)osMon  from 
the  w,^fld,  from  hell  1?^^  from  j.^^ical  .:p,.vfrs,  from 
error,  unbelief,  and  false  knowleage£^(fertaiBly,  Mt 
aiifiient  doctor  of  the  lay,  Oamalieh^TOnlfoned  in  the'^ 
\ctsr:~x?{  the  Apostles,  littered^ADphetlc .  mmh  when, 
rising  up  ij^  the  liigliv  councii;^:expimed:  ."4f  this 
work  Ik  ^f%en,  it  wilt  come  t'd^iauglit :  but  if  it  bo  of 
GpH^  you  cannot  overthrow  it,  lest  perhaps  you  be  found 
§|en  to  fight  gainst  God."  [Acts  v.]  For  nineteen 
c^ituries    the   powers   of   hell    have    waged   war   against 


^. 


% 


CHURCH  S   TRIUMPH   IN   HER   MARTYRS. 


265 


fact   constitutes   the   first   glorious   victory   of   our   holy 
Church. 


% 


87.  The  Triumph  of  the  Church  in  her  Martyrs. 

"Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.  But  thanks  be  to  God, 
who  hath  given  us  the  victory,  through  onr  Lord  Jesus  Christ."— 
1  Corinthians  xv.  54,  57. 

Christ  in  the  very  moment  of  his  deepest  humiliation, 
hy  his  death  on  the  cross,  won  a  victory  over  the  great 
ones  of  this  world.  This  victory  won  in  blood  he  continues 
ta  repeat  in  the  Martyrs,  the  bleeding  witnesses  to  the 
trHth  of  his  Church. 

The  world  employs  all  the  ingenuity  that  hatred  sug- 
gests, and  all  those  means  at  which  humanity  shudders,  in 
t  estrange,  the  Faithful  from  Christ  and  his  Church, 
md  gibbet,  fire  and  wild  beasts,  everything  that 
Id  invent  to  torture  and  kill,  have  all  been  em- 
gainst  the  confessors  of  Ciiristianity,  as  well  by 
al  tyrants  as  by  fanatical  nations.  But  behold! 
With  asup^l|itural  fortitude  have  these  victims  of  cruelty 
mocked  at  IPthese  torments,  and  thereby  proved  that  a 
still  higher  mysterious  power  bore  them  up.  Overcome  at 
this  spectacle,  their  opponents— aye,  even  their  very  execu- 
tioners—ha*re  thrown  themselves  at  the  martyrs'  feet,  con, 
fessed  Christ, and  shared  their  sufferings  and  death.  Ilenc  " 
as  Tertullian  writes,  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  became 
seed  of  Christians,  and  the  enemies  of  Jesus  were  col.. 
l)ellcd  over  and  over  again  to  acknowledge,  with  the 
ancient  P|ijji-^sees,  the  victory  and  triumph  of  the  Saviour 
of  the  world.  ''The  Pharisees  therefore  said  among 
themselves  :  %o  you  see  that  we  prevail  nothing?  Be*^ 
hold,  the  whole  world  is  gone  after  him."— John  xii.  19. 

Each  century,  from  the  time  of  Nero  down  to  the 
present  day,  furnishes  us  with  examples  of  Christian  mar- 
tyrdom_,__Thu,s,   for,  exaniplo^  JJio-^soiL  -o£  J^tpan  was  tts 


1^ 


I 


rj  ' 


'     ■ 


I!  < 


M 
■11,11 

ii!  ' 


!  J 


;^; 


ll' 


266 


CHKIST   IX   IIT.S   CIIUKCII. 


profusely  saturated  as  any  other  land  with  the  blood  of  thft 
martyrs  who  suffered  during  the  persecutions  whicli  broke 
out  in  1596,  and  lasted  for  fifty  years.* 

In  China,  too,  from  179o  to  1820,  during  the  reign  ol 
the  emperor  Hiaking,  thousands  of  Catholics  suffered 
martyrs'  deaths.  At  their'  head  stands  the  valiant  and 
and  pious  Vicar  Apostolic,  Dufresse.,  In  Corea,  in  the  year 
1839,  the  French  bishop,  Imbert,  witli  two  of  liis  brctlircn 


Tlie  Monks  of  St.  Bernard. 

and   about  one  hundred   native    Christians,    secured   tlic 
crown  of  martyrdom. 

Each  and  every  such  glorious  death  of  a  martyr  is  a 
new  and  separate  victory  for  the  Church.  For  what  is 
this  invisible  mysterious  power  before  which  the  rage  and 
might  of  error  and  unbelief  is  so  shamefully  abused  and 

*  The  solemn  canonization  of  tlicse  Japnncsr  itiaityrs  took  place 
in  1862,  in  Rome,  at  a  great  gathering  of  bishops  from  all  parts 
of  the  Christian  world. 


i 


CIIUKCII'S   TRIUMPH   OVER    IIEATIIEX    POWERS.      267 
thwarted  but  the  truth  of  Clirist,  the  grace  of  Christ,  the 


lis 


law   of  Christ,  the   supernatural   treasure  which    he  h; 
deposited  in  his  Church? 

Hardly  less  brilliant  than  the  Church's  triumph  in  tlie 


martyrdom  of  faith  is  that  testimony  furnislfed  during  all 
ages  by  the  martyrs  in  the  pause  of  charity  or  love  of 
neighbor.  All  those  heroic  confessors,  male  and  female, 
of  the  faith,  who  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  penetrated  to  the 
cells  of  the  Christian  martyrs,  in  order  to  comfort  them, 
are  themselves  so  many  martyrs  of  charity,  and  their  lives 
ff)rm  a  victory  of  the  faith  taught  in  the  true  Church. 

Those  monks  whoj'  for  more  than  nine  hundred  ycarsj 
have,  generation  after  generation,  imperilled  their  lives 
amid  the  wild  passes  of  Mount  St.  Bernard,  in  order  to 
save  the  lives  of  perishing  travellers,  are  also  martyrs  of 
'  charity,  a  shining  triumph  in  the  Church.  Such,  too,  are 
the  brothers  and  sisters  who  risk  their  lives  on  the  field  of 
battle,  or  in  the  hospitals  and  asylums.  Their  sacrifice  of 
life,  for  the  sake  of  Christ  and  his  Church,  is  a  continuous 
and  repeated  victory,  a  iiever-ceasing  song  of  triumph,  an 
indubitable  proof  of  the  power  of  Christ  in  his  Church. 


88.  The  Triumph  of  the  Church  over  Heathen 

Powers.. 

"Ami  this  is  the  victory  which  overcoiiieth  the  world,  our 
faith."— IJouN  V.  4.  ..'     ,  ' 

The  pagan  empire  of  Rome  Imd  existed  for  more  than 
a  thousand  years,  and  had  exie*«led  its  power -to  nearly  all 
the  countries  of  the  eartli^#i4af?at  last  the  day  was  dawn- 
ing when  divine  Provide'im^^onld  bring  this  power  to 
the  feet  of  Christ,  and  grant  t'o'  His  Church  her  proud 
victory  over  heathendom.  The  agent  made  use  of  by 
God  for  this  purpose  was  Constantine  the  Great,  the  first 
^ttiong  the  Roman  emperors  to  embrace  the  truth.     This 


# 


y 


1  il 


i  ■    1 
1  j 


1 


1- 


; 


i 


J 


I; 


H 


11 


ii 

,•1 

f 

k 

i,  I 

\ 

i 


i; 

■41 


n 


^^^  <'"TJrsT    IX    HIS    ClIUKCH. 

^famous  ruler,  wl^o  possessed  all  the  talents  of  a  successful       • 
general  u„d  all  the  wisdom  of  a  prudent  legislator,  was 
led.  nito  .the  bos^c^i  of  the  Church  by  an  extraordin^ary 

.    nianiiestation  of  divine  Providence.      Although  lia  had 
ac4un.>d  a  knowledge  of  Christianity  m  his  early  years, 
both    roni  his  dQvout  mother,   the  empress  Helei?    and  . 
from  his  i^ntercour^e  with  the  Christians  who  Were  fouml     % 
•n  large  numljcrs  in  the  imperial  court  of  his  pagan  father'  ' 

Conslanfus.Chlorus,  and^vas  thus  to  a  great  extent  pre- 


pared  to  recr.ve   (be  leacjiings  of  ('lu,st.  vel   ,|  was  onlv 
"•1  tbe  occasion  of  his-great  victorv  at  tbe  Milvian  brid-rr 
;"'    "'*'  3dof  October.  iJIlMh;.^    br    pmn.tted    bim.rlf^u 
be  f.Mallycon.,uered    by  tbe  cross.      Will,  a  verv   infmur 
force    he    ha.i    uvurbrd    agnin.t    (be    lUTtende.f  e.npnur 
MaxcntiiK..  and  gave  bim   battb^iear  the  Milvian  binbr.  ' 
just   before   (.be  gat«  of   Hnm^.       (^,Mstani  in,,  saw   wHh 
extreme  anxiety  the  ve.T  superior  f..,ves  of  bis  furiHi.jrtbln 
0|'|>nnen(.  and  bis  heart  svas  lilie.l  w.tb  saU   fo,vbo(U,.i/>s.of:^ 


»■"    p" 


/     # 


■■BHHBl 


CHfrKCIl's   TRIUMPH   OVER   HEATHEN   POWERS        269 

an  unfavorable  result;  wTien,  happening  to  raise'  his  eyes 
to  the  clouds,  he  beheld  in  tlie  sky  a  brilliant  cross  bear- 
ing the  hiscription,   "  In.  Hoc  Stpio  Vincesl"    "  By  tliis 
Sign -thou  ^halt  con(iuer."     Admonisfied    by  this   extra- 
ordinary, vision,  Constantine  at  once  attached  the  sign'of 
,     the  cro.s«  to  the  imperial  1%,  and  soon  gained  a  brjfliAnt 
and  decisive  victory  over  lii^i  o])poneiit.     Immediately  all 
the  .eruej  and  bloody  edicts  against  the  Ciiristians  were 
repealed,   the  ^religidn'of  Chris*  was   recognized   liy  the 
Statc^and  glorious  temj)les  wej-e  erected  for  its  worship. 
;     -     T^ie  correctness  of  views  hali^  by  Constantino,  on 'tlie 
.    proiief  j-ehitions  between  Church  and"  State  ma)ibe  infem-d 
T^opi   his  remarks  at  the  lirst  General  Council  at    Nice. 
.     From  his  position  amid  tlie  bishops,  and  which  they  had 

•  accoRted  to  ^im,  he  said:  ''Cod  has  ])laced  you  as  leaders 
^  of  theChlireh;  me  He  lias  appointed  merely  to  i)r(.>tcct  and 

•  ,"•  defend  its  temporal  jiart. 

jp,,,.,  -Ofice  niore,  in  323,  ])aganism  raised  its  liead.  under  the 
:  pijpttHKler^Lici,nuj«f  in  the  hope  of  wrcijUng  Christendom 
.  fr|m  .Christ iaM it V*  On  tlie  morning  of  (^ecisivc  hmtle, 
Liciwus  lirst  oifered  sacrilit^e  to  the  false  gods,  and   then 


Ossed  his  army,  s'aying:   ••  tliis  dav  will  ninl 


known 
dt'cide 
\w  was 


ninK( 
\ii^-  \ye  or  t'hc  Chri.^tians  are  in  error.  It  m, 
(^n  onrgods  jind  tlieir  cru(»ilicd  Cod."  But 
'defeated  by  ConsK'ini  ine,  for  (j,,.  f,,ri  ini,.s.„f  wann'rned  in* 
favor  of  the  ( 'linsi  kius  and  their  (Jod.-^i'lic  efforts  of 
jJuItiin  the  Apostatc/nim  -'{(.il  to  ;5(i;{,  had*  similar  ending. 
'riiis-man,a  nci.]«'Wof  CmsLantihe.'endeavurcd  lo  restore 
I'.ig.'inisiij,  '  J{ut  he  was  specially  desirous  to  render  fiils(> 
.  ihe  |>roj)h^.ey  of  Christ  concc^-^ing  t  he  Temple  of  derusa- 
'•'"'•*..  ffenc^.lie  twice  issuedio  rehuird  it.-bnt  his"designs 
were-  thwart  eel  comj)leteIy,  and  con(pi(jred\v  the  IVrsiims. 
Iic*c1-!ea  ont.  as  he  was,dying:  ^*  Tiioif  •iiail^^ixnciuered.  O 
Calilean  "'  .  ^     .      ' 


H' 


■  it^; 


±i 


Thns  therRoman  j^wer,  afteflnvving'waged' wiKr  tfc^iiinJft 
Lnsl.JuiLxenluJgca,  ■  U^^^ly  "Ih^w^ -^^b^y^^frtfty  Cuil»tr 


\ 


2T0 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


standard,  the  holy  cross;  and  the  spouse  of  Christ,  his  holy 
Ctiurch,  hud  won  another  glorious  vic.toi-j'. 


I     ^ 


i 


89.  Triumph  of  the  Church  over  the  Barbarian^ 
in  the  Days  of  the  Northern  Invasions. 

"I  will  hiiujT  luuo  UieQ  Sisc-'ni,  tliu  gcncrarof  tlio  army,  and  his 
cliariots  and  all  lii«  imiltitudc.  aud  will  dulivor  thciii  into  thy  hand. 
—Judges  iv.  7. 


Those 


inviisions  of  the  barharians,  which  a  century  and 


inx'  wer<5  the  ciinse  of. 


a  half  after  the  death  of  ..Cousduit 

the  downfa4^  of  liic  Konian  empire,  had  already  begun. 
Countlesshordcs  ,,f  uncivilized  tribes;  namely  the  8uevi, 
Saxons.  Golh.s  Huns,  aii(|  Vandals,  came  from  the  'in- 


hospitable regions 'of  w'este 


(»vei-nin  the  southerji  countries  ii 


rn  ami  northern   Europe,  and 


1  scarcli  of  pbinder  and 


of  fairer  lands,  sj)rcading  carnage  aiul  devastat 


side 


'I 


orrcnts  o 


f  bl 


(>()( 


Ilea 


psof 


ton  (m  al 


slam,  and  smokiii":  ruins. 


nnii-kcd  the  paths  pui'sne.!  by  these  ruthless  invaders  in  their 
vict.orious  man^iw  tli rough  (laul,  Spam,  and  Italv.     And 


who  was  ili(.  first   I.,  su^'ceed   in  subd 


th 


eseiH)\ver!'ul.  I)ui    rude  and 


umg  and    pacifvin? 


uncn 


descendant, 
Who  tausrii 


llivat 


(M 


Jirt^-now  the  inhabitants  of  civilized 
t    them   to  Understand  and   to  love  | 


i   people,  wli 


<  ISC 


iMI 


riMK' 


civdized  JilV.  and  trained  tl 


leni  in 


'kn( 


of    (udnsti 


•wied 


ire  and 


VViio  defended 


K'ac(>  and 
he  arts 


<»r  MHlMstry.'  vv  iio  detended  and  prewrved  for  fiilun' 
geiu'rat ions— who  rescued  from  ainul  the  general  wnck 
cuused  by  these  mcursions— tjie  remains  of  all  lliat  civili- 
zation, literatuj-e.  arts,  and  scien<<-- •lu-oiight  to  such  per- 
fection by  ancient  Kome!-'  The  Cutjiolic  Church  prove,) 
herself  to  be  the  .ayunn  >.(  civdizod  Europe  in  those  ws 
•ing  times.  She.  and  slie  aloUp,  won  the  grand  1  vie lujiv 
■over  the  barbarou.-;)  iruadf-is.  Ar^)  when  wo  soo  thes(^ 
and  uncultivated  people  ♦ranKformod  into  gentle 
peaceful'  tiUeri  of  the  t>%i,  ciesriitg  the  forents,  laying  out 


! 


CHURCH  S   TRIUMPH   IN   HER  PONTIFFS. 


271 


roads,  building  bridges,  founding  towns  and  cities,  culti- 
vating even  the  arts  and  sc'ences,  we  .see  but  the„result  of 
the  tact,  wisdom,  and  influence  of  tlio  Church.  It  is  an 
indisputable  fact  of  history  that  the  Catholic  Church, 
through  tiic  unceasing  energy  and  j)iety  of  her  bishops, 
missionaries  and  monks,  establisiied  order,  social  and 
political;  education,  lil)erty.  prosperity,  and  morality  upoii 
the  ruins  of  the  ancient  liomun  eufpire,  an<l  thus  saved 
Europe- from  lapsing  into, barbarism,  idolatry,  and  super- 
stition. • 


•  11 


90.  The  Triumph  of  the  Church  in  the  persons  of 
her  great  Pontiffs. 

"  ITc  hiflh  deposed  the  mighty  from  tlieir  scat." — Lukp:  i.  53. 

Ill  i-etiirn  for  these  benelits  conferred  upon  society, 
the  Ciniruli  received  but  little  thanks;  for  we  read  in  the; 
hi.^tory  of  tiie  middle  ages,  -that  proud  emperors  and 
haughty  kings  laised  their  hands  in  threatening  attitude 
against  her,  au'd  sought  to  deprive  her  of  hvf  well-earned 
l)rivileges  and  lights,  to  (h'S|)oil  her  of  her -liberty,  and  to 
roh  her  of  her  po-  cssKins.  Ofti'ii  dui'ing  rtiose  cent  urn's 
do  we  sec  ihcCimidi  prostrate  in  allliction  aiul  oppression, 
hut  still  al\\a\s  protesting  against  wi-ongi'^nd  injus!ii{\ 
Yet  the  <  I'Mul  of  adversity  soon  passes  away-f  anils  ^^e  aganr 
beliohl    he]-    n>.iiig    from    the   dust,    glad   in    tiie    sliming 

fiirmenis    of    vu't,tMy    of    her   divine-huma|i    spous*\    and 
ftnessiiig    in   her   turn   the  downfall   of   her  a(lversari(\*. 
h'lir  the  diviiu'  coiKpieror  of  death  and  hell  prejiared  v^\o- 
rious  vu'tories   f(/r  his  ChnreJi.  hy  j-aising  u|t  in   the   UVjt^ 
of  need  heroie  men  (o  hold  the  keysof  |\'ter:   men 
whose  wise  e,rticioncy  th(>  billows  of  evil  dashed  t\wi 
in  vaiu.     Thus  in  early  Church  liistorv,  fintu  t0(^  (o^ioi,,    ,,„ 
we,  meet  tlie  great  popes,  I^eo  I.  and  Cregor^-  I.      In  tlie 
year  1077.  we  lind  the  unrighteous  emperoi^'  Henry  IV.  of 


n  I 


•* 


I', 


di' 


* 


!'   b 


ll|: 


I 


'*> 


272 


CHRIST  in\iiis  church. 


( 


Germany,  when  deserted  b^l  his  false  friends,  coming  in 
the  garb  of  a  penitent  to  me.:  Gregory  VII.  ut  Canossa, 
in  order  o  seek  protection  at  the  hands  of  that  Pontiff 
whom  l.e  himself  had  abused  .fnd  perseented  but  a  short 
.me  iM-ov.ous.  In  the  tux-lfth  oen.ury  u^^  soe  Alexander 
Ul.,  wiiose  hrmncss  and  goodness  made  such  tin  inlpressi<.n 


•#/' 


on  (he  u-nyu-.rd  n.ormrch  Fre.h.nc.  Harhnn.  <n  CU-M  ho  .Wis 
wdlii)-.|,,  kiss  tlie  P()n(iir'<  1^,1, 

Pope  huH.cont  Id.  (ii:.s  ,.,  i-'io)  nv,u\r  ihr  hma.v 
more  powerful  than  rv.r.  ()„  ,  he  -^41),  of  Mav  IHJ-I  w. 
l^hodthonh,s(n,M,ssutT...r.  i'uxMViL..n.unHn.a«nd     ■ 

:^r:,:lr  ;■';?;.';; ''r  •■^^:''-^— >r('hnstendom. 


while  nlfnost  at  i 


w^  same  lunii  his  persecutor,  (ho 


emperor 


CIIUKCJI'S    TKIUM^H    IX    IIEU   P()NTIFi:s.       273 


Napoleon  I.,  was  signing  liis  jKipers  of  abdication  ia^e 
Castle  at  Foiitaiiiebleau,  whieii  itself  had  been  the  prison 
,  of  the  now  triiiyijjliant' pope.  From  Gregory  WV  to 
Pius  VII.  more  than  seven,  hundred  years  hud  intervened, 
and  during  that' long  and  stofmy  period  tlie  Popes  had 
\yon,  by  tlieir  wisdQjn,  prudence, -aiid  indomitable  courage, 


<fi 


His  Holiness,  Pope  Loo  X;iII, 


iii.ifiy  signal  yiclories  over  \\n^  enetnirs  of  Clirist.  Pius 
ihi'  Nmih  of  our  own  diiy  won  viciones  for  llie  Churdi. 
Ill  'ory  wdl  call  liiin  I'iuM Ire  ( Jreal ,  and  his  iVign  from 
l.S4<'>  to  1k;:'  will  be  known  as  the  age  of  Pins  the  Ninili. 
DWmg  Ins  lifetime  the  (■ncmies  of  the  Chuixh  pri'dicted; 
ivit^  l»iu8  IX.  the  Papacy' dies.  On  the  Tth  of  F(>bruary, 
L87r.  the  grav-haned  Pontiff  was  called  to  Ivis  reward, 
and    but   thirtiM-n   dii,y>^   Ijiti^y   thf»  world -rdtio.uuacaw44i^ 


-It 


j¥. 


274 


CURIST  IN   HIS   CIIUKCH. 


the  joyful  cry,  "  Long  live  Leo  XIII. ,  Pope  and  King!" 
Catholics  look  wfth  confidence  on  this  '*  light  from 
heaven." 

•'  After  ;\  storm  conies  d  calm,  from  night  to  day,  froni 
the  cross  to  the  crown,"  were  the  watchwords  of  the  chosen 
l)ilms  of  Peter's  bark. 


^^^^JJ^^i.    The  Triumphs  of  the  Church  over  tfie 
^*=^=^     -  Heresies. 


"For  I  wilj  give  you  a  mouth'and  wisdom,  wliicii  nil  your 
^J  versa  lies  shall  not  In;  al)le  to  resist  aud  gainsay."— LuKii  3S#i.  15. 

,/  The  darkest  of  all  the  (clouds  tliAt  have  ever  i)asscd  over 
tiio  hniihl  disk  of  the  Cliurch  were  tlie  clouds  of  heresy. 
But  ill  tills  case,  as  in  most  others,  the  proiiiiecy  is  veri- 
fied:  "  From  niglit  to  day,  from  cross  to  crowii^" 

How  ofien  we  have  seen  (lie  iioly  successors  of  tiie- 
(ialiiean  lislierman  ])resi(ling  witli  wisdom,  learning,  and 
l)icty  over  the  graml  councils  of  tlie  Churcli,  and  there 
winning  glorious  ami  decisive  victories  over  iieretics  aiul 
their  ei'roi's  I  'VUc  si)eet,i(le  deserves  our  attention.  A 
teacher  of  <.rror  arises.  His  new  doctrines>^iiivarial)ly 
flatter  the, senses  and  gratify  tlie  pnde  nf  men.  Manv 
persons.  sonuMimes  whole  nations,  mid  even  priests  and 
bishops,  fall  into  the  snare.  The  Cliiiivli  of  (;,„{  seems 
to  totter  towards  eoniplete  ruin;  her  eiiemie.^  are  already 
iejoicing  at  her  downfall.  'Anoii  a  voice  of  anthoritv  is 
heard.  'I'he  successor  of  Kt.  Peter  summons  to  his  side, 
from  every  quarter  of  ("hriste"iwb.m,  the  failhfnl  and 
learned  bishopg  of  the  Church,  and  together  thev  discuss, 
often  foi^  months  and  even  years,  the  disputed  and  denied 
dogmas  of  the  Church.  At  hist,  in  solemn  session,  the 
Fathers  of  the  Church  formulate  for  all  time  their  inspired 
decisions,  promulgate  thom  to  the  world,  and  condemn 
the  heretic  and  his  errorB.     The  world  ie  aatounded;  ftntj 


.?1 


V 


< 


church's  triumphs  over  heresies.        276 

l)resumptuous  pd  self-sufficient  men  of  learning  demur. 
Princes  and  stiitesmen  ])ass  enactments  and  issue  protests 
against  the  decisions  of  the  Fathers.     The  enemies  of  the 

,  Church  are  exasperated.  But  wait!  one  twelvemonth,  or 
at  most  a  few  years  elapse,  and  the  storm  has  subsided; 
the  opponents  are  silent;  unity  and  ])cace  once  more  })ro- 
vaiL  "What  has  become,  .for  instance,  of  those' men  who 
in  1870  pronounced  the  (Jhurch  as  dying?  Of  the  sect 
called  "Old  Catholics"  hardly  a  dozen  remain.  The 
Church  laments  their  disloyalty,  but  they  have  not  weak-' 
ened  her.  More  than  ever  before  she  is  the  centre  of  all 
history,  and  even  iier  enemies  acknowledge  heV  victofv 
over  the  most  recent  assaults.  The  profane  historian  tries 
in  vain. to  explain  this  result;  while  the  believing  Christian 
knows  that  rt  is  Christ,  the  glorious  Victor,  ..who  has 
secured  this  triumph  to-  his  C'hurch.  How  many  times 
has  thi«  grand  scene  -been  presented  t,o  the  wondering 
eyes  of  men.  from  the  days  of  the  Council  of  Nice  down 
to  the  glorious  Council  of  tlie  Vatican!  It  was  not  worldly 
wi.^d'om  tluit  won  the  victory;  "This  is  the  victory  wiiicli 
overcometh  the  world,  Our  Faith:'   [1  John  v.  4. J 

Ever  since  the  Catholic  Church  hai<  beconu-  known  to 
Americans,  nuiny  of  the  best  and  |)urest  as  well  as  of  the 
most  learned  lunoiig  them  have  recognized  her  beautv  and 
truth, aiKJ  have  sought,  by  entering  iu'r  pcn-tals,  to  enkindle 
within  their  own  individual  souls  the  myslerions  litV  of 
Christ,  which  thvy  saw  so' strikingly  reproduced  in  his 
one  true  Church.  Among' these  only  a  few  can  \w  men- 
tioned here,  luimely  :  Arclibisiiops  Biwjey,  Wood,  and 
Eccleston  ;  Bishops  (;ilnu)ur,  Young.  Hosecrans,  jitid 
VVadhams:  Drs.  Hrownson  and  Ives;   h'cv.  Fathers  Hecker. 

•Preston,  Walworth,  Dcslion,   Baker;  Mother  Seton,  foun- 
dress of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  and  manv  others* 


I  3 


H    ::i, 


'   (  rv\ 


Ci 


B 


276 


CHRIST   IN  HIS   CHURCH. 


92.  The  Triumph  of  the  Church  in  her  Conversions 
.  — The  Converts. 

v^aul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me  ?     It  is  liard  for  thee  to 
ki«r?igaiAst  the  goad."— Acts  of  the  Apostles  xxvi.  14. 

There  are  other  victories  too;  choice  and  glorious  and 
consoling,  and  won  by  Christ  ill  his  Churcli:  namely,  the 
return  of  many  worthy  men  and  women  out  of  the  slough 

of  error  to  the  bosom 
of  their  holy  mother. 
It  is  not  possible  to 
enumerate  these  con- 
versions, comprising 
the    best    men   and 
women  of  all  classes. 
x\mong  them  are  elo- 
quent  orators,  such 
|^"*as   Joseph  '  Emman- 
ff   uelVeith,t]iepreach- 
or  of   the  Cathedral 
iu  Vienna.      AnKuic- 
the   i)aiutei-s.    Over- 
beck;    the  architect 
Hilbsch;  the  theolo- 
.gian   8t()[berg;    and 
majiy  others. 
England  is  especially  the  land   of   converts.     In   her 
metropolis  mighty  nien,.su^v as  Cardinal  Wisenum,  proved 
to  Kiiglishme^i  that  genuine  fove  of  liberty  and  civilizing 
knowledge  are  to  be  found  chiclly  in   the  bosom  of  tJic 
Catholic  Church.     Of  the  number  of  English  converts  \\v 
may  form  some  idea  from  the  fact  that  dnring  the  Uist 
fifty  years,  nearly  four  hundred  Anglican  ministers,  among 
them  Cardinals   Manning  and  Newman,   and  more  than 
five  liuntlred  of  the  students  aiid  pjofessors,  all  learned 


Cardinal  Newman. 


CHUKCH'S   TRIUMPH   IN   IIER  CONVERSIONS.      277 


men,  have  returned  to  ^l^osbm  of  the  Church  of  their 
forefathers.     What  influence  has  been  at  work  to  produce 
these  countless  illustrious  coiin-ersions?     Not  indeed  the 
lust  of  the  flesh,   nor  greed,  nor  ambition,   which  have 
sometimes  led  weak  and  unfortumite  Catholics  away  from 
1  heir  faith.      \o  ;  it  is  the  power  of  grace,  the  majesty, 
dignity,    and    beauty^   of   the   ancient   Church    that  '  has 
brought,  them  over.     Many  of  these  converts  are  men. of 
educati(;^  and  relinomenk  while  by  far  the  greater  num- 
ber are  men  of  un- 
blemishe(]  lives  and 
higli     inlclligcncc, 
who  have  I'cnouuced 
friends,  counlry,  })()- 
sition,    and     ample 
means  of  livelihood  ; 
braved     op})osition, 
ridicule.aiid])overtv, 
in  or<ler  to  obey  tlu' 
\oice  ol'  iruth  and  to 
lieed    tlh-   warning-s 
of  conscience   Man  v. 
who   had  won   fame 
!ind   position  am(M)g 
uien,    ret  i roll    from 

the    world     in     ordt'r        '  Canllnal  ^hunmit,'. 

to  devot,.  tj,i>  renuiinder  of,  tl^eir  lives  to  prnvcr  and  i)en- 
;ince   in  the  cell  of;,,  monasttM'y;' interceding  continuallv 


b"'  :ii"  conversion  of  their  still  erring  brethren.  These 
■  ire  noiseless-.-ind  l)/'oo(l]ess,  l)ut  precious  victories  for  the 
<'hurcli.  who  whii.;  the  enemies  of  lightlibnl  truth  are 
'■■•li^in-  against  her,  in  .piiet  and  praverful  seclusion  is 
multiplying  her  victorious  lanrels,  all  of  which -wdl  deck 
her  brow  on' the  day  of  judgment.        <•  '       « 


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93.  The  Triumph  of  the  Church  in  the  Arts  and 

Sciences. 

"  Jesus  spoke :  1  iuii  tlie  light  of  the  world  ;  he  that  followtth 
me,  Wiilkelh  not  in  darkiiess.',;— John  viii.  12.  .  ^"^ 

Among  tlic  many  countless  and  priceless  treasures 
beslowed  upon  the  human  family  by  the  goodness  of  its 
Creator,  the  arts  and  sciences  take  a  prominent  rank. 
But  to  thet^^ntholic  Church  is  due  a  debt  of  gratitude  for 
the  care  witli   wliich    she    has    encourao-cd    ijic  arts   and 


The  Cafliedral  of  Cologne. 

sciencea,  and  preserved  them  against  the  destructive  ten- 
dencies of,  thoughtless,  uncivilized,  and  malicious,  men. 
Art  has  at  all  times  found  a  fostering  mother  in  the 
ancient  Church.  The  homes  of  her  bishops,  the  halls  of 
her  cloisters,  hava  always  been  thrown  open  to  the  artist. 
The  Popes  always  endeavored  to  draw  around  them  men 


^1 


CHURCH   TKIUMPH   IN   ARTS   AND   SCIENCES.      279 

of  skill  and  cultiyation,  and  to  encourage  and  elevate 
them  in  the  pursuit  of  tlieir  refined  calling.  In  fact, 
where  could  the  artist  fuul  himself  more  at  liome  thal^in 
the  beauteous  precincts  of  the  Church  ?  The  heavenly 
doctrines  there  jjrocrlaimed,  the  sacred  story  there  related, 
the  sublime  and  signilicaut  festival  tli<M-e  celebrated,  the 
solemn  service,  the  very  building  itself  in  wMjjk  tlie  ador- 
ing worshippers  kneel  in  silent  }n-ayer  or  ral^Jiieir  united 
voices  in  praise  to  the  great  Creator— tliese  are  themes.. 
well  calculated  to  inspiiv  the  genius  and  awaken  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  poet,  p;iiiiter,  musician,  and  archit^'ct. 
Hence,  it  was  I)y  true  sons  of  the  Chui'idi,  devout  Catho- 
lics, that  those  immortal  works  of  ait  were  produced, 
which  even  the  heretical  and  unbelieving  tourists  are  to- 
day com})elle(l  to  jjromjunce  beyond  imitation. 

In  the  (U'liartnuMit  of  music,  the  reader  nuiy  recall  the 
names  of  the  founders  of  (he  majestic  old  Church  chants; 
more  especinliy  theluime  of  (Gregory  the  (ireat,  ami  later 
of  Palestrina,   Allegri,   Cherubini,  Mozart,  Haydn,   Lam-  ' 
billotte,.  and  countless  otiiers  of  hardly  less  merit. 

In  ancient  ('atliolic  poetrv.  we  [jossess  such  brilliant 
writers  as  Sts.  Amhrose,  I'rucKMitius,  Paulinus,  and  Sedi- 
lius.  Later  on,  we  have -the  devout  ])oets  of  tlie  middle 
ages,  Conrad  of  Queenfort^  John  of  Salzburg,  Lopez, 
Caldcron,  Dante,  Tasso,  Chaucer,  Spenser,  Shakespeare, 
and  nuiny  others. 

Anu)ng  the  Catholic  painters,  we  remember  with  ]u-ide 
Fiesole,   Da  Viaci,    Raphael,  Voncyck,  Vandyke,   Diirer;. 
and  in  subsequent   years,   an    endless  array  of   painters, 
down  to  the  devout  and  artistic  Over])eck.  ^ 

In  the  line  of  sculpture,  the  Church  justly  claims  as 
her  children,  Pisano,  Buonarotti,  Schonhofer,  Kraft, 
Styrlin,  Canova,  and  nuiny  others. 

..     To  the  skill  and  taste  of  Catholic  architects,  we  are 
indebted  for  the  stately  and  enduring  monuments  that  rise 
ill  glorious  propartiott^  in  almosfc^hvei-y^aaatj-yia^^HrQpc,   - 


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280 


CHRIST  IN  HIS  CliUECH. 


A  Church  that  has  begotten,  trained,  and  educated 
such  a  race  otgiant  minds  and  intellects,  should  not 
certainly  be  taunted  as  the  enemy  of  the  arts  and 
sciences. 

The  Catholic  world  in  all  ages  has  been  prodigal  in 
affording  encouragement  to  genuine  art. 

The  same   is   true  with  regard  to  Christian   scienqe. 
Ignorant  and"   insolent   writers   and    speakers    call    our 
beloved  Church  the  enemy  of  science  and  enlightenment. 
But  they  forget  intentionally  all  that  the  Church  in  her 
motherly  love  and  solicitude  has  doae  for  the  education  of 
her  children,  all  that  she  is  still  doing.     They  fail  to 
remember,  or  refuse  to  admit  and  to  proclaim,  that  dur- 
ing long  and  troublesome  centuries  science  had  no  pro- 
tection  or  shelter  save   wjuit  it  found   in   monasteries,' 
churches,   and   cathedrals.     They  forget   that  those  re- 
nowned seats  of  learning,  the  great  universities  of  Europe 
weretoagreiit  extent  founded  and  maintained  by  ,, opes 
and   bishops,    who   by   ecclesiastical    regulations,    liberal 
endowments,  and  many  rights  and   privileges,  have  ren- 
dered these  seats  of  learning  tbe  ].ride  of  all  Christendom, 
ihese  renowned  Catholic  men.  so' deeplv  versed  in  every 
department  of  science;  the  Immortal  achievements  which 
they  have   bequeathed   to  posterity  ;    the  long-continued 
and  successful,   and  eminently  useful   prosperity  of  the 
schools  of  learning  which  she  called   into  existence,  form    ■ 
but  a  portion,   though  a  grand  ,and  proud  one,  of  the 
tnumph  which  Christ  her  founder  and  the   -  Light  of 
1 1.0  World,"  has  achieved  over  darkness  and   ignorance, 
hoy  forget  that  the  most  accomplished  scholars  and  the 
<  eepost  thinkers  sprang  from  the  bosom  of  the  mother 
Church. 


U  5 


CONCLUSION. 


281 


Conclusion. 

THE  TRIUMPH   OF  THE   CHURCH   ON  THE   LAST   DAT. 

-    "It  triumphetb  crowned  "forever,  winning  tlie  reward."— Wis- 
dom iv.  3. 

Although  no.  man  can  question  all  these  triumphs  of 
the  Church,  yet  she  must  ever  continue  to  he,  here  below, 
the  Church  militant,  and  be  willing  and  ready  to  undergo 
nil  those  humiliations  and  persecutions  which  .her  divine 
Founder  was  willing  to  accept  during  his  life  on  ewth.- 
Biit  on  that  great  and  glorious  day,  on  which,  at  last,  the" 
weary  conflict  shall  be  brought  to  a  final  close,  death  be 
forever  vanquished,  and  when  tlie  cros^  of  Christ  shall 
shine  resplendent  with  celestial  glory  above  the  nations  of 
the  earth  on  tlie  great  Judgment  Day,  the  Church  mili- 
tant will  win  her  hist  permanent  triumph,  jmd  become  for 
all  eternity  the  Church  triumphant  in  heaven. 

The  history  of  early  Christianity  furnishe'i?  us  with  a 
feeble,  though  true  and  edifying  picture  of  the  great  tri- 
umph which  the  cross— that  is,  the  Church  of  the  Cruci- 
fied—will celebrate  on  the  last  day.  In  the  year  326,  the 
pious  empress  Helena,  who  from  childhood  had  cherished, 
in  her  soul  the  laudable  design  of  recovering  the  holy  cross 
upon  which  our  blessed  Lord  and  Redeemer  had  consum-  ' 
mated  man's  redemption,  set  out,  followed  by  the  best 
wishes  of  her  son  Constantine  the  Great,  and  tlie  prayers 
of  all  her  Christian  subjects,  from  her  own  country  on  her. 
way  to  the  holy  city  of  Jerusalem.  But  ahis!  on  arriving 
at  her  destination,  she  discovered  that  the  })lace8  which 
bad  been  once  consecrated  by  the  passion  and  death  of 
Uirist,  had  for  more  than  two  hundred  years  been  deso- 
"c«?ated  by  tiio  heathens.  The  pagan  emperor  Adrian,  in 
order  to  show  his  contempt  for  the  teachings  of  the  Cross, 
had  permitted  an  idolatrous  temple  to  be  built  on  Mount 
Cttlvtuyi      Rclytng^  coufidcirtiy  xnr  dirraG^  BSBTStSncfi,  the" 


^ 


II 


A 


282 


CHKIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


■  pious  empress  had  the  temple  pulled  down,  the  rubbish 
removed,  and  excavations  made;  till  at  last  tlie  grotto  of 
the  lioly  sepulchre  was  discovered,  and  lying  near  it  were 
three  crosses,  with  the  nails  and  the  inscription.  This 
inscription  having  become  detached  from  the  cross,  the 
.question  now  arose  which  of  the  three  was  the  cross  of 
Christ,  In  this  emergency,  Macarius,  the  holy  bishop  of 
Jerusalem,  conceived  the  idea  of  carrying  the  three  crosses 
to  a  veil-known  pi<Aus  lady  of  thox;ity  who  was  lying  dan- 


Tim  Finding  of  the  True  Cross. 

goronsly  ill.  In  proseiico  of  the  L'ni])rcs8  and  several  couvt- 
ntt(Mulaiits,  tw(.  crosses  woroa])plied  to  tlio  person  of  the 
iiivi.lid.  but.  without  any  result.  ILirdlv,  bowover,  liad 
the  tiiird  cfoss  toucliod  h(>r,  when  she  felt  now  life  cours- 
ing vcIuMiiciitly  through  jier  hitherto  withered  and  para- 
lyzed limbs,  and  she  arose  iinmediatolv  from  her  bed  in 
the  full  enjoyment  of  health  and  strougth.  Wl,o  can  con- 
ceive the  joy  that  must  have  thrille.l  the  heart  of  the  pious 
em[)ro88  and  other  witnesses  of  this  miracle?    The  cross 


'* 


<V 


CONCLUSION. 


283 


of  Jesus,  which  was  once  a  folly  to  the  Gentiles  and  a 
stumbling-block  to  the  Jews;  the  cross  of  Christ,  once  the 
sign  of  shame  and  disgrace;  the  cross  of  Christ,  which  for 
centuries  had  lain  concealed  in  dishonor  beneath  the  tem- 
ple of  Verms,  now  came  forth  from  its  obscurity  to  be 
lifted  ujv  in  honor  and  triumph  before. the  eyes  oif  tlie 
nations.  And  while  the  grateful  empress  embraced  the 
sacred  wood  with  unspeakable  reverence  and  consolation, 


The  Glories  of  tho  I'inal  Triumph  of .  Our  Lord. 

and  the  holy  l)i,<li<)p  Macarius  proclaimed  the  wondrous 
woiks  of  (i()(l.  H  thrill  of  joyful  gratifii(l(>  ran  through  the 
lienrts  of  the  multitude,  who  witli  one  accord  raised  thoir 
voices  in  joyful  praise  aiul  shouts  of  triumph  for  Him  who 
by  his  deatii  on  tire  cross  had  con(piered  sin  and  hell. 

If  then  the  Cross  of  (Jhrist  was  thus  victorious  and 
triumphant  in  those  days;  if  it  is  still  so  to  an  eminent 
degree  even  m  our  day  of  strife  and  oppression,  how  trans- 


iil 


/ 


-^ 


284 


'   CHRIST   IX   HIS   CHURCH. 


**.-»' 


cendently  glorious  wHl  be.  its  triumph  on  the  day  of  iudg- 
ment,  when  it  shall  ap^r  in  dazzling  splendor  abov4  the 
heads  of  all  mankind  !  The  gferies  of  tliis  last  great  tri- 
umph of  our  crucified  Lord,  and  of  his  persecuted  Church 
have  been  vividly  portrayed  by  St.  John  tlie  Evangelist 
HI  hia-book  of  Eevelations:  ■ 

''After  these  things,  I  heard  as  it  were  the  voice  of 
much  people  in  Jieaven,  .saying:  Alleluia  !  salvation  and 
glory  and  power  is  to  our  God.     And  the  four  and  twentv 
ancients  and   the  four  living  creatures  fell   down   and 
adored  God  that  sittetli  upon  the  throne,  saying,  Amen  ^ 
al  eluuil    And  I  heard  as  it  were  the  voice  of  a  great  mul- 
titude, and  as  the  voice  of  many  waters,  and  as  the  voice 
of  great    hundcrs;  and  the  voice  of  harpers  and  tliem  that 
l)lay  on  the  pipe  and  on  the  trumpet.     And  they  sang  a 
new  canticle:  Alleluia!  the  Lord  our  God,  the  Almightv 
■hath  reigned.     Babylon  is  fallen,  the  great  is  fallen.     Lo[ 
us  be  ghid  and  rejoice,  and  give  glory  to  him;  for  the  mar- 
riage of  the^Lamb  is  come,  And  his  wife  hath  prepared 
herse    .     And  it  is  granted  to  her  that  she  should  clothe 
herself  with  fine  linen,  glittering  and  ^^hite.     For  the  fine 
Jinen  are  the  justifications  of  the  saints.     And  I  saw  the 
heaven  opened,  and  beheld  a  white  horse,  and  ho  that  sat 
upon  him  was  called  Faithful  and  True,  and  with  justice 
doth  he  judge  and  fight.     And  his  eyes  were  as  a  flame  of 
nre,  and  on  his  head  were  many  diadems,  and  he  had  a 
name  written  which  no  man  knoweth  but  himself      And 
ho  was  clothed  with  a,  garment  sprinkled  with  blood-  and 
his  name  ,s  called  The  Word  of  God.    And  the  armies  that 
are  m  heaven  followed  him  on  white  horses,  clothed  in  fin,, 
hneu  white  and  clean.     And  he  hath  on  liis  garment  ami 
on  his  thigh  written:  King  of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords  " 
Such  will  be  the  day  of  the  Lord,  the  dav  of  his  hu,t, 
greatest,  most  signal,  and  most  endurii^.g  victory. 


&• 


\ 


RETROSPECT 


OP 


CHURCH   HISTORY,  ACCORDING  TO 
AGES  AND   CENTURIES. 


I.  The  Three  Epochs. 

rpHE  whole  period  of  time  embraced  in  Church  history 
J-    may  be  divided  into  three  ages;  namely,  Christian 
Antiquity,  the  Middle  Ages,  and  Modern  Times. 

I.  Christian  antiquity  covers  the  period  from  the^'birth 
of  Christ  to  the  reign  of  Charlemagne,  about  the  year"  of 
our  Lord  800.  During  the  greater  portion  of  this  age,  we 
find  Christianity  most  flourishing  chiefly  among  -the 
ancients  ;  that  js  to  say.  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans. 
We  see  the  Churcli  maintaining  her  position,  through 
bloody  conflict,  for  throe  hundred  years,  against  the  impe- 
rial power  of  mighty  Pagan  Rope,  making,  that  time  the 
','  Age  of  Martyrdom,"  During  tljat  same  period,  as  well 
as  during  the  following  three  or  four  hundred  years,  she 
preached  and  developed,  though  amid  mighty  conflicts 
with  heretics  and  heresies,  the^saving  truths  whicli  had 
been  entrusted  to  her  keeping.  This  was  the  "Age  of 
tiie  Church  Fathers." 

As  early  as  the  second  part  of  the  age  of  Christian 
antiquity,  several  strange  peoples,  chief  among  th&m  the 
Germans  and  Franks,  invaded  tlie  Itoman  Empire,  bowed 
down  before  the  Cross  of  Christ,  embraced  Ciiristianity, 
and  gradually,  under  llic  reign  Vjf  Charlemagne,  took  their 
—  pluccg  IB  tbt»  history  of  tlte  ( ;l»u t^4i,  to  irgq  ofthc  andentg.^ 


If 


.■■*=^ 


286 


CHRIST   IN    HIS  ClitJKCH. 


t 


II.  During  the  Middle  Ages,  Christianity  lived,  acted, 
and  flourished  chiefly  among  these  German  and  Roman- 
esque* peoples.  The  apostolic  chair  of  St  Peter's  in 
Eome  was  the  rally ing-point,  about  which  all  these  mem- 
bers of  the  xarious  Christian  families  gathered  together. 
Religious  and  civil  life,  Church  and  State,  were,  notwith- 
standing many  a  contest  between  Popes  and  Emperors, 
closely  ilnited  together.  The  happy  results  of  this  union 
may  be  s'een  in  the  monastic  life,  and  in  the  glorious 
monuments  of  religious  architecture  which  even  now 
awaken  our  admiration  ;  also  in  the  Crusades  and  in  the 
Orders  of  Knight-errantry,  and  in  the  renowned  and  crowd- 
ed universities  of  learning. 

III.  Modern  times  in  Church  history  usually  take  their 
date  from  the  so-called  Reformation.  It  has  been  a  period 
of  resistance  to  lawful  authority  o;i  the  one  side^hile  on 
the  othfer  side  it  has  been  a  time  of  most-  imimate  and 
faithful  adhesion  of  the  true  and  stanch  Catholics  to 
their  ancient  Church.  Social  and  civil  life  have  bfeen  con- 
stantly losing  their  Christian  character  ;  while  the  Church, 
on  the  contrary,  in  the  midst  of  pers^ution,  has  been 
strengthening  herself  from  day  to  day  in  her  inner  life, 
in  preparation  for  the  time  when  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
warned  by  the  chastisements  of  Heaven,  shall  seek  within 
her  pale  help,  safety,  and  renewed  vitality. 

*  The  Romanesque  people  were  those  people  in  France,  Spain, 
and  Italy  who  sprang  from  the  mingling  of  the  Qermaus  with  the 
aQcient  Romans. 


SHHHHBHBHH 


THE   FIRST   CJ^NTURY. 


287 


The  First  Century, 


ou 


The  Oentury  of  the  Apostles  and  their  Disciples. 

A.D. 

34  The  Coming  of  the  Holy  GHost  on  Whitsunday 
(page  17).  The  Rise  and  Growtii  of  the  First  Chris- 
tian Congregation  (page  27).  St.  Peter  converts  3000 
persons  on  one  day,  and'^OOO  on  another  (page  29). 
Conversion  of  St.  Paul  (page  32). 

St.    Stephen   the  First  Martyr  is  stoned  to    death 
(page  189). 

St.  Peter  converts  Cornelius  the  Centurion  (page  29). 
The  Apostles  go  forth  as  Missionaries  to  all  lands 
(page  41). 

_      The  Council  of  the  Apostles  atJerusalem  (page  124). 

54-  St.  Paul  preaches  at  Ephesus,  Macedonia,  lllyria,  and 

S8      Greece  (page  35). 

St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  are  put  to  death  by  the  Empe- 
ror Nero  (pages  31  and  40). 
Destruction  of  Jerusalem-  bv  the  Romans  under  Titus 

(page  247). 
St.  John  the  Evangelist  is  cast  into  a  caldron  of  boil- 
ing oil,  from  which  he  comes  out'uninjured  (page 
41).  Beginning  of  the  Gnostic  heresy  (page  216). 
After  the  Apostles  ap])04|ir  Sts.  Titus,  Timothy,, Cle- 
ment, Ignatius,  Polycarp,  and  the  holy  men  who  re- 
ceived the  doctrines  of  salvation  and  their  Apostolic 
Missions  directly  from  tiic  Apostles  themselves.  Per- 
secutions of  the  Christians'  by  the  Jews,  i)agans,  and 
the  Emperors  Nero  and  Domitian  (pages  245  to  250). 

The  following  are  the  four  Popes  who  reigned  during 
the  first  century:  ) 


36 

39 

42 

51 


67 


70 


95 


«     «      ^  DIED 

1.  St.  Peter 07 

8.  St.  Unus ;;  78 


„    .,       „.  DIED 

3.  St.  Cletus '. go 

4.  St.  Clement 100 


to 


Ra 


1 


V 


^sBBm^m 


288        3U  CHRIST  IN  HIS   CHURCH. 


The  Second  Century, 


1 80 


^ 


oil 
The  Century  of  TiiE%HKisTiA2f  Apologists. 

A.D. 

107   St.  Symeon,  Bishop"  of  Jerusalem,  and  St.  Ignatius, 

Bishop  of  Antioch,  are  put  to  death  (page  116). 
125  Quadratus,  Aristides,  Justin,  Athenagoras,  Tatian, 
to  Theophilus,  Tertullian,  and  other  ilhistrious  ApcJo- 
gists,  by  their  writin-gs  and  by  word  of  moutli,  ably 
and  successfully  deny  and  refute  the  unfounded 
calumnies  uttered  by  the  pagans  against  the  Chris- 
tians; such  as  being  Atheists,  or  despisers  of  the 
Deity,  traitors,  murderers,  and  t'he  like.  The  Found- 
ing and  Growth  of  the  Church  in  Asia  (page  55),  and 
in  Africa  at  Alexandria  and  Carthage  (page  60); 
also  in  Italy,  Si)ain,  France  (page  45),  England  (page 
47),  and  the  Ehine  Countries  (page  50).  The  Gnos- 
tics arise.  The  chief  abettors  of  this  heresy  are  Ba- 
-  silides  and  Saturninus  (about  a.d.  125),  Valentine, 
Marcion,  and  Bardcsanes  (page  217).  The  heretical 
nioral  reformer,  Montanus  (between  140-150),  denies 
the  co-operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  work 
of  Christ.  'Praxeas  (19|-202)  denies  the  doctrine  of 
the  Blessed  Trinity.  Violent  persecutions  against  the 
Church  under  the  Emperors  Trajan,  Adrian,  Mar- 
cus Aurelius,  and  Septimus  Severus  (page  350). 

The  eleven  Popes  of  the  second  century  are: 

_     _,^     .  DIED  I  niirn 

C:  St.  Eyaristus 121    12,  St.  Anicetus..  S. 175 

7.  St.  Alexander 1.32  j  13.  St.  Roter "  182 

8.  St.  SIxtusI 142    14.  St.  Eleutherius !  193 

in   li-Telesporus.....     IM  i  15.  St.  Victor  1 803 

10.  St.  Hyginus 168 


'  m 


THE  THIRD   CENTURt. 


289 


The  Third  Centj^ry, 


OR 

The  Century  of  Origen". 

A.D.  "  ,  , 

202  Martyrdom  of  St.  Irenaeus  (page  117). 

203  Clement'  of    Alexandria    is    succeeded    by    Origen. 

Among  the  men  who,  in  the  course  of'this  century, 
amid  the  persecutions  of  the  Christians  by  the  Em- 
"perors  Decius,  Valerian,  and  Diocletian,  keep  the 
torch "  of  Christian  knowledge  burning  brightly, 
thereby  exerting  a  decisive  influence  on  their  con- 
temporaries and  posterity,  we  find  Origen,  St.  Cy- 
prian, and  Tertullian  (pages  117  and  118);  also  count- 
less anchorites  and  holy  hermits,  such  as  St.  Paul  of 
Thebes  (page  19G). 
227  The  Persian  Manes  (page  217)  teaches  Manichoeism, 
the  doctrine  that  there  are  two  Eternal  Beings, 
Light  and  Darkness,  constantly  warring  with  each 
other  for  supremacy.  "  " 

230   Mai-tyrdom  of  St.  Cecilia  (page  211).  r 

240  Death  of  Tertullian,  who  in  his  later  years  is  led 
astray  from  the  Church  by  the  doctrines  of  Monta- 
nus  (page  118). 

249  Death  of  Origen  (page  118) 

250  St.  Antony,  the  first  Hermit  (page  158).     The  cities 

of  Toledo,  Leon,  Tarragona,  Cordova,  and  Elvira, 
in  Spain,  become  bishoprics  (page  45). 
258   Martyrdjom  of  St.  Cyprian  (page  118). 

The  fifteen  Popes  of  this  century  are: 

DIED 


16.  St.  Zephyrinus 230 

17.  St.  Calixtus  1 227 

18.  St.  WbanI 233 

19.  St.  Pontian 238 

20.  St.  Anterus 239 

21.  St.  Fabian 2.53 

23.  St.  Cornelius 25,5 

23.  St.  Lucius  1 267 


DIED 

24.  St.  Stephen  1 260 

25.  St.  SixtusII '. 261 

26.  St.  Dionysius 272 

27.  St.  Felix  I 275 

28.  St.  Eutychlan 283 

29.  St.  Caiiis  296 

30.  8t.  Marcellinu8 804 


1:1 


mpp 


I    / 


290 


CHRIST  JN    HIS   CHURCH. 


The^  Fourth  Century, 


OR, 


■     The  Ckntury  op  the  Great  Church  Fathers.     , 
A.D.  ■  ,  "  7 

305   The  celibacy  of  the  clergy  is  made  a  fixed  law.  by  the 
bishops  assembled  at  the  synod  of  Elvira  (page  141).r 
3of  Martyrdom jof  St.  Catharine  (page  213). 

312  Victory  ^f  Constantino  the  Great  (page  268),     With 

Constantino  ends  the  *'age  of  Martyrdom,"  and  be- 
gins ''  the  period  of  the  Great  Fathers  of  the  Church. " 
Within  this  century  ocoui's' the  gloripus  period  of 
Sts.  Athanasius,  Hih'irius,  Ephrem,  Cyril  of  Jerusa- 
^  lem,  Epiphanius, 'Basil,.,Grcgory  of  Nyssa,.  Gregory 
,  Nazianzen,  Chrysostom,  Jerome,  Ambrose,  and  partly 
of  St.  Augustine  (pages  119-122).- 

313  Bishops   assembled    at   Rome    pronounce  judgment 

against  the  l)onati8ts,  who  held"  that  baptism  is  in- 
valid if  conferred  by  a  heretic. 

.325  Eirs^General  Council  at  Nice  (page  125),  at  which  ' 
the  Arian  heresy  is  condemned  (p;ige  218). 

328  St.  Athanasius,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  is  made  Arch- 
bishop of  Alexandria  (page  118). 

340  Death  of  Eusebius,  Bishop  of^  Cssarea,  the  fathpr  6t 
Church  history. 

356  Death  of  St.  Antony,  founder  of  monastic  life'(paffe    ' 
158).  .  ■  VI  5     , 

361   Julian  the  Apostate  becomes  EnTperor  (page  269). 

381  ^Second  General  Council  at  .Constantinople,  in  which 
the  Errors  of  Macedonius  against  the  Diyinity  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  tke  condemried-tpage  125). 

386  Death  of  St.  Cyril  of  Jerusalem  (page  119). 

387  Death  of  St.  Monica,  mother  of  St.  Augustine  (paffe 
.    21a).  -         ,  .  4         "  . 

390  Contest  ^etween   St,  Ambrose  (page  II9J  and  J,he 


i 


^ 


1 


THE  FWtH   CEnI-URIT- 


2&1 


Emperor  Theodosius,  in  which  the  latter,  submits 
'  and  doQs  penanbe  for  his  crime.^ 
During  thi^s  century  Ufila,  bishop  of  the  Western 

Goths,  tranrfates  the  Bible  into  Gothic. 

The  eleven  Popes  of  the  fotirth  century  are: 

DIED  I  DIkI 

,81.  St.  Marcellusl.........'. ,  809  87.  St."  Liberius « 

88,  St.  Eusebius : 311  138.  St.  Felix  II 885 

83.  St.  Melchiades '  814  38.  St  Damasus 884 

84.  ^t.  Svlvester  1 ,-  %-.  887 

36.  St.  Marcusv ......%..   .»J..  340 

V^St.  Julius  i. ........ ..,.rr...  808 


40.  St.  iiiricius i. 

41.  St.  AnastaaiusJ.  .  .< 409 


M 


-.      !.*;■ 


The  Fifth  Century, 


OR 


The  Century  of  Pope  Leo  the^  Great. 


A.D. 


V 


407  Death  of  St.  John 'Chrysostom  (page  122).  .,, 

410  Rome  is  taken  and  plundered  by  the  GothS  under 
■'  Alaric.        ~~  J 

430  St.  Augustine  dies  as  the  Vandals  are  invading  Africa 
.    (pages  61  and;f20).  .  ' 

431  Third  General  Council,/lield  at  Ephesus  (page  125), 

declares  in  opposition  to  Nestorius  that  there  js  but 
one  person  in  Christ,  and  not  two  separate  -persons, 
and  establishes  and  confirms  "the  dignity  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary  as  Mother  of  God  (page  220). 

432  St.  Patrick  adds  Ireland  to  the  list  of  Christian,  na-^ 

tions  (page  48).  '     ^  ^ 

440  Pope  Leo  I.,  who,  during  the  pontijicate  of  Popes 
''  Celestine  L  and  Sixtus  IIL,  though  only  m  deacon's 
orders,  wielded  a  gi-eat  influence,  is  made  Pope,  and 
beconies  in  the  hands  of  God  an  instrument  to  pro- 
tect and  honor  the  Church  during  the  decay  of^h'e  ,"* 
^  Romatn  Empire^  and  the  invasions- of  heathens  and", 
the  assaults  of  the^rians  (page  270). 


r-- 


l'_^ 


mm 


r-^ 


'J 


.J/ 


■«'' 


w 


292 


A.D. 


CHRIST  m  HIS  church! 


444   Death^of  the  holy  Father  of  the  Church,  St.  Cyril  of 
^       Alexandria  (page  119). 

449   Pope  Leo  the  Great  meets  ittila,   md  saves  Italy 
(page  149).  -^ 

•  451  Fourth  General  Council,  -  at  Chalcedon,  declares 
against  the  heretic  Eutjc^ics  (page  220),  and  de- 
fines the  revealed  teaching  of  faith  that  in  Christ 
there  jire  two  distinct  natures,  the  div'ine  and  the 
human,  Kypostatically  united  in  one  divine  person 
(page  125).  .        '        ^         „ 

476  *Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire  in  the  ^e^,  under  the 

Emperor  Romulus  Augustulus. " 
494     Feast  of  the  Purification  is  introduced  into  the  West 

by  Pope  Gelasius  (i)age  109). 

•496   Conversion  and  baptism  of  the  French  King  Clovis 
.      (page  46).  °      ^^ 

The  eleven  Popes  of  the  fifth  century  are: 


DIED 


42.  St.  Innocent  1 417  48   <?f   mtmr^r  "'"" 

44.  St.  Honiface  I t^  to'  §f  te'V*;'"" 4R3 

45.  8t.  Celestine-I ^2  k,    Sf  n«  '  „i  "^i ^^^ 

48.  St.  Sixtus  III 440  5"    s»    An„  ."", ''   Vt *^ 

47.  St.  Leo  I.  The  Qreat 461 ,         ^''  ^"*«t*«'"«  " 498 


The  Sixth  Century, 


on 


i^        "^  'I'tte  CKNTruY  OF  St.   Bknedfct. 

529  St.  Benedict,  by  his  monastic  rule,  which  is  the  foun- 
dation of  monasticism  in  all  ages  of  the  Church,  iVs 
well  as  Jiy  his  founding  of  the  Benedictine  Order, 
works  tilidying  good  for  the  civilization  of  Europe,' 
for  the  drvolopmont  (^  the  Chinvh.  ami  for  the  sal- 
^  vjition  of  ^auls  (page  1(11).  With  Pope  St.  Gregory 
I.  he  shares  the  glory  of  this  century.  -«■ 


Ih 


THE  SEVENTH  CENTURY. 


293 


A.D. 


553   Fifth  General  Council  at  Constantinople  (page  126). 
S6o  Council  of  Tours  and  that  of  Macon  (586)  enforce 
the  offering  of  tithes  (page  144). 

565   St.  Columkille  carries  the  faith   to   Scotland   fnaffe 
48).  ;^  ^ 

570   Birth  of  Mohammed'  (page  57). 

596  St.    Augustine    and    forty   missionaries    found    the 

Church  in  England  (page  47). 

597  Death  of  St.  Columkille  (i)age  48). 

During  this  century  the  Western  Goths  in  Spain,  the 
Burgundians  in  Eastern  France,  and  j^ially'also 
the  Lombards  in  Northern  Italy,  aban  JPArianism 
and  join  the  true  Church.     . 

The  fourteen  Popes  of  the  sixth  century  ar6: 


DIED 


63.  St.  &jTnrnachu8 .514    6i).  St.  Silverius  . . .  "rmS 

Hormmdas 523  '  01.  ViRilius .V.:.' ' ' '  M5 

62..  I'elagius  1 5^0 


54.  St.         ,^, 

B5.  St.  John  I rSj 


^-  S'-„^^i'"^  }Y !^  ra.  johrTrii..". ; ; : ; : : ^ 

5i.  Boniface  II 533    «.<    u, li.-.  t  "?1? 

58.  John  n 5,<j5 


04.  Kenedict  I 573 

05,  Pelagius  II ; ; .'  590 


69.  St.  Agapitus .::■■:  m,m.k^::j^^^i:T^,or..t::^ 


The  Seventh  Century, 

oil 
The  Century  of  Mohammedanism,  f 

610  Moluimmcd  ])rotcnds  to  have  visiotift. 

611  Mohammed  first  appears  as  a  public  toaclier,  declar- 

ing "there  is  but  one  God,  and   Mohammed  is  his 
prophet"  (page  57). 

62a   Flight  of  Mohammed  from  Mecca  to  Medina  (mse 
57).  •  .         ^t   ^- 

630   Mohammed  marches  on  Mecca,  and  takes  possession 
of  the  city  (page  57). 


\ 


294 


A.D. 


CHKIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


tlie  Mohammudans  overrun  Western  Asia,  Africa, 
and  Spain  (page  57),  while  the  Church  in  the  East 
is  convulsed  with  uiiccasing  theological  disputes.' 
Whilst  agitated  by  the  violent  interfei-enco  of  the. 
Byzantine  Emperors  in  ecclesiastical  cpiestions,  and 
tending  towards  decay,  new  Church  life  is  awakened 
in  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland.  The  faith  is 
carried  from  Ireland  to  Germany  and  Switzerland 
(page  49). 

637   The  Mohammedans  take  .Jerusalem. 

680   Birth  of  St.  Boniface  (page  ol).     The  Sixth  General 
Council,  at  Constantinoi)le;,  condemns  the  Monothe- " 
lites. 

The  twenty  I*oj)efl  of  the  seventh  century  are; 

DIED  DIED 

67.  Sftbinianim mn\    77.  St.  PhiKcniiis  I  avj 

68.  Bonifiioe  ni    6()T    TH.  Kt .  Vilulian  (ira 

09.  St.  Boniface  IV (515    7!).  AdecKlatu.s  IJ.  . .  '  (ir(i 

70.  St.  Ademlatus  I (ll<>-  m.  nomnus  I  rth 

71.  Boniface  V (iar,  HI.  St.  Ajfatlio  .     .  '  (JH'> 

Ti.  Honorius  1 (WH  82.  St.  Lf o  II.  '     tm 

73.  Severinus (UO  8;1  St.  Benedict  II.  . . : .    ..;■.;;■  086 

li'  i^""'  .'^-   •  V "^'~    '^*    J"hn  V 686 

75.  Theotlonis  I (14!)-    H,\  Oonon  .  .  C87 

76.  St.  Martin  1 055    m  St.  Sergius  1 701 


The  Eighth  Century, 


oil 


Thk  Centcky  ok  St.   BoNiFAfp:. 

718  Zeal  and  activity  of  St.  BonifMce.  He  is  authorized 
hy  Pope  (ilregorv  II.  to  evangelize  th(>  (Jerm^ms  (page 
51). 

723  St.  Boniface  is  mad(!  1)ishoj).  and  changes  the  name 
Winifred,  which  he  received  in  baptism,  to  that  of 
Bojiifaco  (j)ago  51). 

7a7  The  (Jroek-Emperor,  Jico  the  Isaucian,  and  the  heresy 
of  Iconocla.sm  (page  ^^22). 


THE   NINTH   CENtURY. 


29/5 


A.D. 


743   King^Luitprand  gives   PopQ   Zachary  the  city  and, 
province  of  Sutri  as  the  lawful  property  of  St.  Peter, 
tiius  forming  the  nucleus  of  the  "  Temporal  Power" 
(page  1.50). 

753  Pepin  the  Small,  son  of  Charles  Kartell  and  father 
of  Charlemagne,  is  anointed  King  of  France  (page 

753   St.  Boniface  receives  the  martyr's  crown  (page  52). 

770   Death  of  St.  John  Damascene  (page  119). 

787  Seventh  General  Council,  at  "Nice,  sustains  and  con- 
firms the  time-honored  and  pious  veneration  of 
images  (page  223). 

The  twelve  Po])es  of  the  eighth  century  are: 

2!J°i:"^}, "  TOS  j  93.  St.  Zacharias "/m" 

22-  ^P*?"^" '07;M.  Stephen  II ,   .  7^ 

80.  SisliiniUH 708  19.V  Stephen  III .  ^ 

90.  Constantine     715  I  9(5.  St.  Ipaul  I .     .      767 

SJ-  gj- G'^K^i-y  "•• 731    97.  StephenlV .771 

92.  St.  Gregory  UI 741    98.  Adrian  I  .         795 


ii! 


ii 


The  Ninth  Century, 


OK 


The  Centuuy  op  Tii'R  Great  Schism  in  the  Ea^t. 

800  Pope  St.  Leo  III.  crowns  Cfiarlemagne  Roman  Em- 
I)eror;  that  is  to  say,  constitutes  him  protector  of  the 
Church,  and  chief  among  the  Clwistiaii  princes  in 
the  West. 

831  Paschasius  Radbertus  originates  the  first  controversy 
on  the  Real  Presence,  in  which  John  Erigena  ap- 
pears, as  forerunner  of  Zwingli  (i)age  23f)). 

848  The  monk  Oottschalk  renews  the  controversy  on  Pre- 
to      destination,  holding  that  some  persons  have   been 

849  preordained  by  (iod  to  be  lost.         '' 

--8«y  Eighth  i4enerat  \  Jmractt,  nr  tfnn WflntlnopTe,  exposes 


296 


CHRIST 


In 


!  i»,  II  ■ 


HIS    CHURCH. 


and  condemns  the  wickedness  of  Photius,  who  was- 
seeking  to  separate  tlie  Eastern  from  the  Western 
Church,  in  which  attemj)t  he  was  successful  (page 
223).  During  this-century  the  Saxons,  Northmen, 
Swedes,  Noj^egians,  and  Bohemums  are  converted 
(page  52). 

The  twenty-one  Popes  of  the  ninth  century  are- 


DIED 

99.  St  Leo  III •: 816 

100.  Stephen  V  817 

101.  St.  Paschal  I- 824 

102.  Eueenius  II 827 

103.  Valentin  e 827 

104.  Gregory  IV 844 

105.  Sergius  II 847 

^-    St.  Leo  IV a'iS 

107.  lieneclict  III ms 

108.  St.  Nicholas  I.  The  Great..  867 

109.  Adrian  II  872 


DIRD 

110.  JohnVIir 882 

111.  Marinus  1 884 

llii.  Adrian  III 885 

113.  Stephen  VI 891 

114.  Formosus 896 

1 15.  Boniface  VI 896 

116.  Stepiien  VII 898 

117.  Konianus 898 

118.  TheodorusII 898 

119.  John  IX....' 900 


The  Tenth  Century, 

'  ofi 

The  Century  of  the  Assaults  on  the  Qhaiu  of  Petek. 


A.  D. 


911  Rollo,  the  most  skilful  and  daring  |of  all  tlie  Nor- 
man chiefs,  is  converted  and  baj)lize(l  under  the 
name  of  Robert,  and  shortly  after  marries  the  royal 
princess  (Jisela.      Robert  imd  his  successors  protect 

'  the  frontiers  of  the  Wost-Frankish  Empire  from  in- 
rasion  by  the  Normans,  religion  floiirisbes,  and  tlio 
great  French  lionedictine  monastery,  which  after- 
ward exerts  such  a  powerful  and  salutary  influence, 
is  faunded  at  Cluny. 

942   Death  of  St.  Od|),  Abbot  of  Cluny. 

950   Ilierotheus,  first  bishop  of  the  Hungarians  (page  5,'}). 

955  The  Russian  princess  Otga  (IIchMia)  is  baptized  at 
Constantinople.  Her  grandson,  Wladimir  the  (Jieat, 
labors  to  establish  Christianity  among  the  Russians. 


THE   ELEVEJNTTlf  CXENIXJKY. 


297 


A.D. 


962   The  Polish  Duke  Mieczyslaw,  tlirough  the  influence 

of  his  wife,  Donibrowkii,  is  baptized; 
972--freisa,  Duke  of  .Hungary,  begins  to  introduce  Chris- 

997  tianity  into  liis  8tates. 

998  Odilo,   Abbot   of    Cluny,   adds    to' the   feast   of   All 

Saints  a  commemoration   of  the  souls  of  the  faith- 
ful departed.     Feast  of  All  Souls  (jjage  111). 

The  twenty-six  Popes  of  the  tenth  century  are: 


lao.  Benedict  IV.   . 

121.  Leo  V 

IsK.  Ohristophoru.s 
123.  Sei-gius  III 


DIED 


DIED 

1*4.  John  XII U04 


WKi    135.  Benedict  V 9d5 


90J 
911 


136.  John  XIII ,    972 

137.  Benedict  VI 973 


124.  Anastasius  HI 913    138.  Domnus  II  ....;.'. .'   '.'.'.'"    973 

123.  Landiis 914       "      " 

126.  John  X !ftJ8 

127.  1^0  VI 9-^;) 

128.  Stephen  VIII 9,{i 

}20   John  XI my    iii.  Joiiii  XVI 


939.  1-14.  (iregory   V 
!H2     145.  John 


130.  Leo  VII 

131.  Stephen  IX 

1^.  Marin.is  II      946  ,  146.  Sylvester  11 . .     . .  1003 

133.  Agapitus  II. . 956  ; 


139.  Benedict  VII 984 

140.  John  XIV 985 

141.  Boniface  Vll 985 

142.  John  XV 996 

996 
999 
999 


iry   V. 

xvn. 


-    The  Eleventh  Century, 

Olt 

The  Ckntl'hy  of  Pqpk  8t.   Grixjohy  VII. 

1014  The  saintly  Henry  II.  is  crowned  Emperor  of  Ger- 
many (page  200), 

losj  Second  controversy  on  the  doc-trine  of  the  Heiil  Pres- 
ence. i\fi<'huel  Cerularitis  completes  the  severance 
of  tlie  (J reek  from  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
(piige  '^2:}). 

I0S9  To  the  College  of  Ciirdiiuds  is  given-  the  right  of 
electing  the  Popes  (pjigo  i;57). 

1073  Hildebrand,  a  monk  of  Cluny.  who  for  thirty-three 
years  had  exercised  a  powerful  influence  in  tlie  gov- 
ernment of  the  Church,  becomes  Pono.  as  (Ji(Mr,„-v 


¥iL  AF»ttprfmcPoTrfrff,t] c  ^voW.q  wTtTfeqii at  e n e rgy ^ 


II 


J«. 


:|i  : 


298 


CHUIST   in    1118   CHUKCH. 


A.D. 


1076 
to 

1077 
1084 
1085 
1088 

1095 
1099 


for  the  udvancement  of  learniug  and  piety  among 

the  clergy  and  for  the  hberation  of   the   Church 

from    civil   encroachments.     Rise    of    universities 

under  the  special  influence  and  protection  of   the 

Churqli.     Rise  of  Scholasticism. 
Henry  l\\    of   Germany   is   excommunicated,   and 

goes   to   Canossa  to  implore  pardon  of   the   Pope 

(pages  253  and  272). 
Bruno  of  Gologne  establishes  the  Carthusians. 
Death  of  Pope  Gregory  YII. 
Death  of  Berengarius,  whc^  denied  the  doctrine  of  the 

Real  Presence. 
Enthusiasm  for  the  first  Crusade  preached  by  Peter 

the  Hermit  (page  1G3). 
Jerusalem  captured  by  the  Christians  under  Godfrey 

de  Bouillon  (page  IG-i). 

The  eighteen  Poi)es  M  the  eleventh  century  are: 


DIKD 

147.  John  XVIII 1003 

148.  John  XIX 1009 

149.  Sergius  IV 1012 

150.  Benedict  VIU 1024 

151.  John   XX 1033 

152.  Benedict  IX 1044 

163.  Gregory  VI.  (abdicated 

in  104()) 

164.  Clement  II     1047 

156.  Damasus  II 1048 


DIED 

IM.  St.    Leo  IX mVJ 

157.  Victor  II 1057 

158.  Stephen  X -*  1058 

159.  Benedict  X 1059 

160.  Nicholas  II 1061 

161.  Alexander  II 1073 

103.  St.  Gregory  VII 1085 

I(>3.  Victor  III 1087 

i61.  Urban  U 1099 


The  Twelfth  Century, 


OR 

The  Century  of  the  Crusades  anp  op  the  Knights 

Errant. 

A.D. 

iii8-  Establlslvnent  of  the  Orders  of  Knight-Templars  and 
1 120     of  Knights  of, St,  John  (page  167). 
II22    Agreement  made  between  Pope  C/alixtns  II.  and  the 
^ JEmperoi  Henry  ¥^4?£GcimanyT-Iiy-aLhieh  iheirea= 


H,  • 


THE  twj:lfth  century. 


299 


A.D. 


1 123 


"39 

II49 

1152 

to 

II90 

"53 
1 170 


1 179 


election  of  bishops  is  guaranteed  to  tlie  chapters  of 
the  resi)ective  catliedrals,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  Pope  (page  143).  ' 

Ainth  General  Council,  at  Kome,  declares  and  main- 
tains the  independence  and  freedom  of  the  Church 
from  the  civil  power  of  the  Emperor  (page  126). 
Tenth  General  Council  at  Rome  condemns  the  sedi- 
tious demagogue,  Arnold  of  Brescia  (page  12b).      '  , 
-The  Second  Crusade  is   preached   by  St.    Bernard 

(page  1G4). 
The  haughty  Emperor  Frederic  Barbarossa  opens  a 
controversy  between  the  Empire  and  the  Papacy 
which  lasts  more  than  a  hundred  years. 
Death  of  St.  Bernard  (page  163). 
St.  Thomas  A  Becket,  the  holy  Arclil)ishop  of  Can- 
terbury, is  murdered  at  tlie  foot  of  the  altaj-  (page 
254).     Dciith  of  St.  Isidore  (page  205). 
Eleventh  Qcneral  Council,   at   Rome,  in  which  the 
errors  of   the  Albigenses  and  Waldenses  are   con- 
demned (pages  126  and  225). 

The  Third  Crnsade  (page  163). 

r 

The  seventeen  Po})es  of  the  twelfth  century  are: 


DIED 

165.  Paschal  II 11I8 

166.  (Jelasius  II 1119 

167.  Calixtua  II na-t 

168.  HonoriysII n.so 

169.  Innocent  II . . .  .■ 1143 

170.  (lele.stine  II 1144  ; 

171.  Lucius  II 1145  i 

172.  B.  Kugeniu.s  III HM  ' 

173.  ^nastasius  IV 1154  I 


DIED 

174.  Adrian  IV  . . .  ■. n59 

175.  Alexander  III ]]81 

170.  Luciu.s  III 1185 

]  i7.  Urban  II] ]]87 

17H.  Gregory  yill iiH7 

179.  Clement  ill hhI 

im.  Celestineill um 

181.  Innocent  HI iai6 


J 


i 


300 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


The  Thirteenth  Century, 


OR 


Th 

A.D 


k 


1204 
I215 


I219- 
1270 

"45 


"45 

1246 
1250 


E  Ce.vtury  of  St.  Ffiancis  and  St.  Dominic. 

-Oiiring  this  century  the  Papacy  attains  great  power 
under  the  pontiticate  of  Pope  Innocent  III.,  who 
died  in  I5il6  (page  16s). 
The  Fourtli  Crusade  (])age  163). 
Pope  Innocent  III.  sanctions  the  Mendicant  Oi;der  of 
St.  Francis  of  Assisi  (page  168),  and  that  of  St.  Domi- 
nic (page  171).    Twelfth  General  Council,  at  Rome, 
rejects  the  errors  of  Berengarius,  which  had  before 
been  refuted,  and  more  firmlj^establislies  and  eluci. 
dates  the  true  Catholic  doctrine  by  the  adoption  of 
the  term  transubstantiation.    At  the  same  Council 
the  dogmas  of  the  Blessed  Trinity  and  of  the  Incar- 
nation of  the  Son  of  God,  both  of  which  have  ever 
been  taught  and  believed  in  the  Church,  are  reaf- 
firmed and  clearly  and  bjiefly  formulated  (page  126)^ 
The  obligation  of  yearly  Confession,  and  of  receiv- 
ing Holy  Communion  at  Easter,  is  imiwsed  upon  all 
(page  91).  ■ 

Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Seventh 'Crusades,,  in  the  second  of 
which  St.  Louis  is  taken  prisoner  (page  165). 

Thirteenth  General  Council,  at  Lvons,  in  which  all 
Christendom  is  exhorted  to  take  up  arms  and  defend 
itself  against  the  incursions  of  the  Saracens  (pajre 
126).  ^^   '' 

The    Western  Carmellites  are   enrolled  among   the 

Mendicant  Orders. 
Institution  of  the  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi  (page  103). 
Frederick    II.    of    Germany   is    reconciled   to    the 

Church,  and  dies  December  13. 

The  pious  Rudolph  of  llapsburg  is  Emperor, 


\ 


THE  THIRTEKXTir   CEXTrTRY. 


~^^ 


301 


A.D. 

1274  Fourteenth  General  Council,  at  Lyons,  in  which  the 
ancient  doctrine  of  the  Procession  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
from  the  Father  and  Son  is  renewed  and  confirmed 
and  the  union  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  Churches  is 
established,  to  be  severed  again  after  a  short  time 
(page  127).  St.  Thomas  of  Aquin  dies  while  on  his 
way  to  this  Council,  and  St.  Bonaventure  during  its 
sitting. 

1294    Pope  Benedict  VIII.  has  a  contest  with  the  insolent 
Philij)  the  Fair  of  France,  who  is  seizing  the  prop- 
erty and  revenue  of  the  Church. 
During  this  century  are  founded  the"  Universities  of 
Oxford  (1249),  Cambridge  (1257),  Vicenza  (1204) 
Padua  (1222),  Naples  (1224),  Vercelli  (1228),  Pia- 
cenza(1246),  Treviso  (12G0),  Ferrara  (12G4)  Pen.cria 
.  (1276),  Toulouse  (1228),  Salamanca  (1240),  and  Lis- 
bon (1290).     The  three  oldest  of  the  Universities, 
namely,  of  Paris,   Bologna,  and   Salerno,   though' 
begun  in  the  twelfth  century,  are  very  flourishing 
in  this.  ^ 

The  seventeen  Poi)es  of  the  thirteenth  century  are: 

m   Gr^^olTl¥ ""I'i^    191.  Adrian  V "j^^ 

185.  Innocent  IV.   .   . o^    l^'  ^''L*  l^J" ^'■^ 

m.  Alexander  IV  i-w  '  ^"  h^     "^^V,. '285 

187.  Urban  IV . . .     . .' .' |H  i  ]B  S,?!,"^^'^  /.Y 1287 

188.  Clement  IV J.f«o    l^'  o."^J5">'^  }^    1282 

189.  B.  (iVl^ory  X.-. 1^1    \lk  RnnS?''^""'!^  V (resigned)  1296 

190.  Iniioeent  >.....:.■:.;;:..  life  I  ^«°'*ace  ^^^ 1303 


• 


li 


302 


CHRIST    IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


The  Fourteenth  Century, 


i 


A.D. 
I3OS 

to 

1378 


1311 


I315 
1347 

1349 


OR 


1360 

.  I361- 

1381 

1393 


The  Century  of  the  Exiles  at  Avignon. 

Yielding  to  the  pressure  of  France,  the  seven  Popes 
from  Clement  V.  to  Gregory  XL  reside  at  Avignon, 
in  France.     After  the  death  of  Gregory  XL,  two 
Antipopes  lay  claim  to  the  Chair  of^Peter.      The 
Council  of  Pisa  (1409),  in  order  to  put  an  end  to  the 
schism,  declares  both  elections,  that  in  Rome  and  the 
one  in  Avignon,  null  and  void,  and  elect  Alexander 
V.    Christendom  is  thu^  distracted  into  three  divi- 
sions.   The  great  schism  la§ts  from  1378  to  1417. 
The  Fifteenth  General  Council,  in  Vienne,  abolishes 
the  Order  of  Knight  Templars,  at  the  instance  of 
Philip  the  Fair  (page  167).    The  Fratricelli,  Apos- 
tolicals,  Beghards,  and  Beguines,  associations  which, 
though  originally  formed  with  pious  and  charitable 
intentions,  fell  into  excesses,  and  even  into  lieresy, 
are  condemned. 

Raymond  Lullus  Is  martyred  at  Tunis  (page  61). 
Coladi  Rienzi,  the  tribune  of  the  people,  re-establishes 
the  Roman  Republic. 
The   Black   Plague,  a   malignant  contagious   fever, 
ravages  Europe  and  leads  to  a  revival  of  peniten- 
tial severity.  A  body  of  religious,  calling  themselves 
Flagellants,  go  about  scourging  themseliSes  in  order 
to  avert  God's   anger.     Starting  with  the  best  of 
motives,  they  finally  become  presum])tuous  and  self- 
sufficient,  and    rejecting  with  contempt  whatever 
comes  from  the  Churcji,  they  arc  suppressed. 
The  Tieretic  WicTiliffe  disrpuets  England  (page  227). 
Death  of  the  Mystics  (page  226),  Tauler  (1361),  Sus( 

(1365),  and  Ruysbroch  (1381).     • 
Murder  of  St.  John  Nepomucene  (page  195). 


THE   Flt^TEENTII 
The  fourteen  Popes  of  this 


199.  B.  Benedict  XI 
300.  Clement  V.  ? 

201.  John  XXII. 

202.  Benedict  XII. 

203.  Clement  VI. 

204.  Innocent  VI 

205.  B.  Urban  V. 


DUSD 

j;304 

(at  Avignon)  1314 
1334 
134a 
1352 
13<)2 
"     '     "  1370 

212.  John  XXIII 


OKNTIJKY.  303 

century  are; 

206.  (JPietoirx:    XI.    (restor««  ^^^ 

See^ktoTlome) .   1378 

207.  Urban  V^I '         1300 

208.  BonifaceflX V 1404 

209.  Innocent  VII .   ./ f^      y 

310.  Gregdry  XII.  (resigned  1416^ 

!411.  Alexander  V i4]() 

(resigned   1415), 


The  Fifteenth  Century, 


OR 


AD. 


The  Cen-tury  of  Genuine  Reforma«tion-. 


1409    The  Council  of  Pisa. 
Hi4^  The   Sixteenth    General  CoTnTdi:  at  Constance,  in 
■winch  the  dism>ul   divisions  caused  by  the  Anti- ' 
popes    are 'healed   and   the   errors    of    Huss    and' 
Wickliffe  (pages  127  and  2:^7)  are  condemned. 
1419   John  Huss  is  burned  at  the  stake  (page  227).  Death 

of  the  great  Dominican  St.  Vincent  Ferrer. 
M3I    Seventeenth  General  CVnoil,  at  Basel.     It  is  con- 
to       tinned  by-that  of  Fefra:^a,  in  1438,  and  of  FloreTice, 
1449     in  1439  (page  127). 
1440   Invention  of  printing. 
'  1453   Ca]iture  o^  Constantinople  by  the  Turks  (page  224).  . 
1457   St.  Francisof  Paula  founds  the  drder  of  I^inims. 
1492   Discovery  of  Amewca  (page  62).   Overthrow  of  Sara- 
cens in  Spain  by  Ferdinand  the  Ciitholio» 
1494^  An  altar  erected  on  the  island*of  Ilayti  (page  69). 
This  century  is  fruitful  -in  eminent  hofy  men,  as  St. 
Vincent  Ferrer,  St.  Bernardin    of  Sienna,  St.  Francis'of 
Paula,  Thomas  A  Kempis,  author  of  "  The  ImAtion  of 
-  Ctirist,'Hhe  learned  theologian  Gerson,  the  noble  Cardinal 
Nicholas  of  Cusa,  the  great  preacher  John  Geiler. 
Tlie'nine  Popes  of  this  century  are:  ' 

te  Martin  V      hIi  :  218.  Paul    II 7471 

oi^-  v'X'J'%^7 1447    213.  SixtusIV 1484 

5  fi    nl'.tl'"''  T^TT ■ ^^^''  i  220-  Innocent  Vm. .......  i!  14^  ' 


» 


r 


^  ■ 


>"i 


I 

f      j 


i     ; 


wr  Pftiffir.:nTtr:;v:vrr:\?^:  1464i 


i ' 


;i()4 


%■  ♦ 

CHRIST    IN     HIS    (  IIURCH. 

'the  Sixteenth  Century, 


OK 


A.D. 

15  r2 

1514 
to 

1517 


1517 


to 

1547 
15 18- 

1564 
1521 

1524 

1525 

1526 

1527 
1529 
1531- 
1588 


The  Centi  u  /  of  Sham  Reformatk^.    " 

Tlie  Eigliteenth  General  Council,  at  Rome  (page  127). 

Cardiiial  Ximenes  i)ublishes  a  polyglot  Jiible,  contain- 
ing Hebrew,  Clialdaic,  Greek,  and  other  versions. 
He  also  publishes  dictionaries  and  grammars 'to  aid 

•  iir  the  ac(juiring  of  the  biblical  languages,  l^his 
eminent  man,  at  once  a  statesman,  Avarrior,  scholar, 
and  saint-,  dies  in  1517.     . 

To  thej)rocess  of  genuine  rcformation.succeeds  a  false 

.   dne,  not  improving  morals,  but  attacking  ancient 

belief  and  practices  ;  not  harmonizing,  but  divi'dlng 

Christendom  (Axge  228).     The  so-called  reformers 

Luther  (page  2M)  and  his  friend  Mclancthon  (pajre 

Francis  I.  of  Fi^ice  stiives  for  Churclfunity  in  his  > 

own   country,  aXd    at   the  same   time   helps  the  " 
"  Eeformation"  i(i  Germany. 
-Zwingli  preaches  a^^iinst  the  Pope  (page  23G).  John 

Calvin  (page  237).  "      ;  ' 

Charles  V.  of  Spain,  Emperor  of  Germany,  opplles 

the  " Refutation." 
Gustavus  Wsa,  of-Swcden,  introduces  Protestantism  • 

into  his  comitrv. 
Tlie  Peasants'  war,  in  which  it  is  com]uit(#i'  hundred 

thoi|»^nd   men  fell ,  in  battle,  spreads  throughout 

Germany.      '    -.  - 

The    Capu6h?jRS,.  a   branch    of   the   Franciscans,  is 

founded  by  J^l^iew  Bassi  (page  170). 
The  Catholics'^5yjiaaft-p%«]t^^        a  ]K)lvglot  Bible. 
The  Turks  bef^p|P^pP  Vierina.  ' 
Religious^wars  p^^Ptmd   (Ml);  in  Germany 

(lo4G),  im^j})^^mmP-5G2~15M)  (page  240).    


"V-  5* 


% 


m 


THE  SIXTEENTH   CENTUltY.       * 


306 


1534 


/ 


^SZS 


Henry  VIII.  of  England,  who  at  one  time  defmids  the 
Ohnrch  against  Luther,  now  embraces  Protestant- 
ism in  order  to  freely  indulge  h'rs  i)assions.  Luther 
publishes  hififimie.  The  Anabaptists  take  i)osses- 
sion  of  M>#li^ut.ure  finally  subdued,  and  their 
^^^^^J*^^^  ^T^yden,  is  executed  (1536). 

Sj^Igl^t^of  Loyola  founds  the  Society  of  Jesus, 
iW*'^^^^^  ^"^^^"™c^^  ''1  1540  by  Pope  Paul  Il|.  (page 


1536, 
1537 


1542 

1545 
to 

1563 
1546 
1548 

1551 


1552 

1555 
to 

1598 
1556 
1558 


^Death  of  Erasmus,  "the  scliolar  of  Rotterdam." 
Apostolic  brief  of  Pope  Paul  IIL  againsi  enslaving 
the  American  Iiulians  (page  (^b).    St.  Angela  Merici 
founds  the  Order  of  Ursulines^(page  180). 
St.  Francis  Xavier  carries  the  faith  to.  tiioEast  Indies 
(page  58).    ^J- 

Minetecnth  (general  Council,  at  Trent,  in  which  the 
errors  of  the  so-called  Reformers  are  rejected  and 
cbndemned  (page  127). 

Death  of  5lartin  Luther  (page  235). 

St.  Philip  Xeri  founds  the  Order  of  the  Blessed  Trin- 
ity, Avhich  later  on  takes  the  name  of  the  Oratory. 

Blessed  Peter  Canisius  labors  for  the  faith  in  Austria. 
He  succeeds  in  stopping  the  advance  of  heresy,  and 
brings  back  to  the  Church  most  of  tliose  who  had 
gone  over  to  Protestantism.     lie  renders  great  ser- 

jic^  to  both  clergy  and  laity  by   the  i)ubli^ation 
'^^^y^^^''^  Larger  and  Smaller  Catechkm,  ami  is 
called  tq  his  reward  in  heaven  in  1597. 

Death  of  St.  Francis  Xavier  (page  59). 

Philip  II.  of  Spain  contends  for  the  unity  of  the 
Church,  though  sometimes  with  questionable 
means. 

Death  of  St.  Ignatius  of  Loyola  (page  173). 
Elizabeth  becomes  Queen  of  England,  ])crsecutes  the 
Cathodes,  and  beheads  her  cousin,  Mary  Queen  of 


■  * 

^<3  CHUIST    IN    ins    CHJJRCJI. 

A.U.        -'  ■ 

1562  to  1588  Huguon\)t  w^u-s  in  France  (page  240). 
i56'6    Deatli  of  Las^Casas  (page  (it).    * 
1572   Tlie  Massacre  of  tSu  Bartholomew's  Day  (page -340), 
1579  Tlie  Soeiniaus,  a  heretical  sect,  »i4eein  Poland 
1582    Death  of  St.  Teresa. 

1584  'Death  of  8t.  Charles. Borromeo  (page  193.) 
The  seventeen  Po])es  of  tiie  sixteenth  century  are: 

01 KD   I 

*>^-  Leo  X issji  ;  ii-y    UreL'oi-v  XIII  i ^i» 

^5  Adrian  VI  b-j  '  m  sixi*fts i' '"::;::;::- '  .^ 

^-  ;^''"-V'  ,; ''^'■'■'■'    a;sr.  Innocent  IX cT' 


^v 


;  i  -.. 


'A 


I  ■ 


The  Seventeenth  Century, 


oil 


rTHE  CeHTI'RY  01'  THK  TlIIKTY   YkaKs'  WaR 

1607   i^eath  of  tho^Miurch  historian  Cardinal  Bar 


A.n. 


onius. 


1610  H^Q    Visitation    Nuns    founded    by    St.    Francis   of 

Chantal.  \ 

•i6i8    For  thirty  years  a  religi..us  WMr  rages  in  V^M-nianv. 
to-     .  which  IS  concluded  Ify  a  treaty  kiiiiwn  as  t  lie  Treaty 
1648  „  of  Westphali.-i,  llie  execution  of  Nvhich  is  guaranttvd 
^by  France  and  Sweden,  the  two  ('oniitries  that  had 
done  mostto  ruin  Cicnnanv  (page  ^41).       ^ 
162a    Death  of  the  theologian  Hciiarniin. 
1622    Dputh  of  St.  Francis  <.f  Sales.     St.  \'incent  of  Paid 
founds    the    Order   of    Priests   of    the    Mission    or 
Ijazarists. 

1629  St.  Vincent  of  Pud  establi.-vhes  the  Sisters  of  Charity 

(page  182).  .  ^ 

1630  Rationalistic  Deism  in  England.  « 
1647   Ueatli  of  the  great  theolotrian  CorneliusXI^iipidc. 


TJIK    EIGriTEKXTII    CENTURY. 


307 


A  D. 
1643 

1649 


1650 
1658 

i66e- 
r662 

1678- 


1681 
1683 
1697 


Louis  XIV.  becomes  King  of  Fnince. 

Lord  Bultiiiiyre  ])roimilgiites  religious  freedom  to  all 
settlers  iu  his  colony  (page  i\'.\).  Charles  L  of  Eng- 
land is  made  prisoner  and  beheaded. 

George  Fox,  an  LnglishmaiC  founds  the  sect  of  the 
Quakers. 

Death  of  Cromwell,  "  The  Protector,"  of  England. 

Death  of  tSt.  Vincent  de  Paul 

The  Order  of  Trappists  founded  by  Bouthillier  de 
Kiuice. 

Bishop  Francis  Stephen,  of  Pamiers,  is  condemned 
by  Louis  Xl\\  to  lose  the  temporalities  of  his  dio- 
cese because   he   rebukes   the  king  for  unjust  and 

-despotic  actions  in  his  dealings  with  the  Church. 

Father  J.  B.  De  La  Salle  founds  the  Society  of  the 
Christian  lirothers  (i)age  180). 

The  Siege  of  Vienna  by  the  Turks  is  raised  by  the 
Catholic  king  John  Sobioslvi*  ;" 

The  Peace  of  Ilyswick  declares  that  the  Catholic  re- 
ligion shall  remain  m  the  (lerman  countries  occu- 
pied by  France. 

The  eleven  Po|)es  of  the  seventeenth  century  are: 

r>o«     r  DIED    ,  DIED 

23fl,  L^..  XI  Kur,    a4>i  rioin.Mit  IX 1669 

o    ■  n""'  ^    v,^  '«-'  ^«"  <'U'in.-nt  X 1676 

wo     tT'^"\'mm^  lOaSiiHT.  In4.(....nt   XI 1680 

^4a.   Urban  Mil    1(M4    048  Alexiuxler  VIII 1691 

ji43.  Innooent  X  1(155    aiU.  Iiin.aelit  XI I.    1700 

iSM.  AlexaniltT  VII 16«7  1 


\ 


The  Eighteenth  Century, 


OK 


Thi:  Century  o^EvoLrriox  and  of  Anti-Chhistian 

Philosophy. 
A.n 

1725    Pop(««»Ben edict   XIII.  (-(.nvokes   the  Council  of  the 
_ fcateran  for  the  TcpTTHSTon  of  atmseg. ^ 


308 

A.I). 
1729 

1738 


1732 


1753 


1764 

1773 
1775 


1776 

1780 

to 

1796 


1785 


ciimsT  IN  JUS  ciiuiicii. 

John  Wesley  foniuLs  the  sect  of  the  Metliodists. 

Pope  Clement  XII.  issues  a  bill  condenuiin^r  the 
Order  of  Freemasons. 

The  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  liedeenier  (Ke- 
demptorists)  is  founded  by  !St.  4h)honsus  LiLMiori 
(page  175).  ^ 

France,  where,  during  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  the 
higher  classes  became  addic'teil  to  unbelief  and  loose 
morals,  becomes  thcaheatre  on  which  the  jiretended 
philosophers  \ol(aire,  Housscau,  I )'Alcmbert, Dide- 
rot, and  other  atheists  and  enemies  of  the  Jesuits, 
chiefly  in  their  great  Encyclopa'dia,  make  war  oii 
Christianity  and  prei)ai-e  the  way  for  the  llevolu- 
tion. 

The  Jesuits  mv  sup])rossed  and  persecuted  in  France 

in  i:(J4.  in  Spain  in  ITOT,  aiul  in  Naples  in  1708. 

The    Jesuits   are    suppressed    by  a    brief    of    Pope 

Clement  XIV.  (])age  i;4). 
The  battles  of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill  the  begin- 
nuig  of  the  struggle  for  AnuM-ican   ludepeiulence. 
John  Barry,  an  L-ish  Catliolic,  leads  the  first-naval 
battle  of  the  American  Revolution  (page  (j(j). 
The  Fnited  States  declares  its  indej)endence. 
.Iosei)h    II.   of  (uM-many  becomes  the  leader  of  the 
enemies  of  the  Church,'  and  favors  Illuminism  and 
Freennisoniy.     The  electors  of  Ment/-,  Treves,  and 
Cologne,  and  the  Archbishop  of  Salzburg,  forming 
the  notorious  Congress  of  Kms,  draw  up  a  protest'^ 
kiu)wn  as  the  /'inir/iia/ion  0/  /'Jiiis,  in  which   tjiev 
insist  on  absolute  and  unrestricted  episcopal  author- 
ity.  This  |u-otest.  ainuni  at  the  Holy  See.  is  sent  to 
.loseph  II.,  who  gives  it  his  hearty  approval  (page 
255). 

First  (Catholic  congregation  organized  in  New  York 
(page  72). 


i 


THE  NINETEENTH   OENTURr. 


309 


A.D. 

1789  Outbreak   of   the  French    Revolution    (page   256)* 

The  National  Assembly  confiscates  all  Church 
projterty,  and  establishes  a  civil  constitution  for 
the  clergy, 

1790  Kpv.  John  Carroll  is  made  first  Bishop  of  the  United 

States.    ,  » 

1792  First  Synod  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  Uni^d 

States  (page  72). 

1793  Louis  XVI.  is  beheaded  by  the  revolutionists  (page 

250).  Every  vestige  of  Christianity  disappears  and 
M£  worship  of  the  Goddess  of  Keason  takes  its  place 
■    Wnge250). 

17^4'^^IJdlcspierre  decrees  the  existence  of  a'Supreme  Being 
and  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  Pius  VI.  protests 
against  all  these  acts,  is  made  prisoner,  and  Home 
is  proclaime'd  a  republic  (1798). 

1799   Pius  VI.  dies  in  exile  at  Valence  (page  25G). 

The  eight  Popes  of  this  century  are; 


250.  Cloment  XI  ..  ^I'^n 

251,  IniKH't'iit  XIII irit 


DIED 

liM    BoiiPdict  XIV' 1758 

">.  ('lemeiit  XIII ;.   I7(i9 


WW.  (element   XII 1710  |  !i57.  I'iua  VI 1799 


The  Nineteenth  Century, 


OH 


The  Ce?^tuky  of  tue  Sepakatiox  of  the  Faithful 

FROM    THE    UnUKMEVERH. 

From. the  time,  of  the  French  Revolution,  but  more 
especially  during  the  thirty-two  years'  reign  of  the 
lale  Piu,^  IX.,  opposition  to  all  authority,  with  un* 
i>eliof.  immoralfty,  and  rel)elIion,  is  rampant  on  one 

"'^^''  ^v''''o  ""  JHe  other,  faith  and  rdi^inna  Ktotd^, 

faatuogggrow stronger  umoug  Catholics.  The  various 


310 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHUKCH^ 


1  I 
1  ' 


i 


A.D. 


H  i8oo 
1803 


1804 
1806 


1808 
1809 

1814 


1815 


1817 

1825 

1855 
1826 

1829 


sects,  detached  from  the  true  faith,  faJUtrttrinfidel- 

ity;  whilst  the  bonds  of  belief  amoi^  the  fijithful 

are  drawn  closer  than  ever  before. 
Pius  VII.  electeil  Po])e  at  Venice. 
The  principalities  and  possessions  of  the  Church  in 

Germahy  are  secularized  to   comi)ensato    tiie  civil 

princes  for  their  loss  of  territory  on  the  left  bank 

of  the  Rhine. 
The   Jesuits    are   restored    in    Naples.     Pius  VII. 

crowns  Bonaparte  Enijieror  (i)age  25;). 
The  States  of  the  Church  are  incorporated  into  the 
French  Empire.     The  Poi)c  is  made  prisoner  and 
carried  away  to  Savona  (i)age  257). 
The  See  of  Baltimore  is  raised  to  an  archbishropric. 
Daniel  O'Connell  becomes  the  leader  of    the   Irish 
Catholic  })arty. 
After  the  abdication   of  N"ai)oleon  Bonaparte,  Pius 
VII.  returns  to  Komc   and  issues  a  bull   re-estab- 
lishing the  Jesuits.     Soon  after  Napoleon's  return 
from   Elba,  \he   Papal    States   are  invaded   by  the 
Frencli   tr()()j)s,  and   the  Pojw  is  again  obliged  to 
leave    Rome.     Napoleon    is  defeated  at   Waterloo, 
and  sentenced  to  exile  for  life  at  St.  Helena  (Dacrc 
257).  "^ 

The  States  bf  the  Cliurch  are  restored  in  the  Vienna 
Congress  (page  27-.»).  Religious  and  eeclesiasfieal 
revival  in  France  by  Chateaubriand,  Do  Afaistre, 
Eacordaire,  ami  others. 
The  Irisji  Kmaiicipation  Bill  is  rejected  for  the  sec- 
ond time  by  the  English  Parliament. 
■   Persecution    of    Catholics    in    P,,lan(l    and    Russia, 

es|H'('ially  under  the  Emperor  Nicholas  I 
The  K|)iseo|)acy  in  Englaiul  ask  for  a  repeal  of  the 

p(>nal  laws  against  Catholics. 
O'Connell  is  elected  to  Parliament.      Passage  of  the 
"Ti-fsTj  Kmancipation  BiTl  hy  the  efforts  of  (VCotiuell. 


THE    NINETEENTH    CENTUIIY. 


311 


A.D. 


1836   Dr.  (afterwards  Cardinal)  W 


1843  J( 


start  the  Dublin,  Re 


iseman  and  O'Connell 


view. 


in    Henry    Newman    (now    Cardinal)    emb 


Catholicity,  .and  is  foil 


races 


o\v 


W.  Faber  and  Dr.  (now  Cufdmal)  Mannintr  (1 


1845  bv  Fallier  F. 


270) 


)afre 


1846   Piux  IX.  begins  his  pontificate  (page  244).     () 


City  becomes  an  archbisho])! 


regon 


1847   O'Connell  dies  while  on  1 


ic. 


becomes  an  archbisl 


lis  way  to  Kome.     St.  Loui 


1850    Catholic  hierarchy  i 
1854   The  dogma  of  the  I 


lOpI'IC. 

s  re-established  in  England, 
mmaculate  Conception  is  pro- 


mulgated^on  the  8th  of  December  (i)a"(?  108^ 


i860   Mas^acre/of  the  jKuitilical 

(j)age  153).     The  States  of  the  Clnircl 


to  tiiG  "  Pati-ii 


irmy  near   Castellidardo 
1  are  reduced 


1865    D.eath  of  Cardinal  \\ 
1869    Twentieth  (ieneral  ( 


iiony"  of  St..  Peter  (page  147). 


senum, 


"cneral  Council,  at  the  Viatic; 


in,  defines 


the  Infallibility  of  the  Pope  a  dogma  of  faith  (1 


125-131) 
1870   Kome  taken  by  the  Piedmont 


)asi:es 


ese  army  and  the  tem- 
poral power  wrested  from  the  Pcpe  (pages  152  and 
258). 


1872    Persecution  of   the   Church    in   (, 


to 

1874 


land. 


and  Italy.      May  laws  against  the  f 


ermaiiy,    Switzer- 


I'ee  exercise 


of  Cath()li('  worship.      Expulsion  of  the  reliyious 
orders  from  (Jermany.  and  of  Jlic  Catholic  Hi.ri 


lODS 


from  (Jermany  (page  243).      Cencral  jjcrsecution  of 

the  Catholic  press  iii  Europe. 
1875    Archbishop   McCh.skey  is  made  the  (irs(  American 

Cardinal. 
1877    'l'h(>  (Jolden  .Jubilee  of  Pope  Pius  IX 


'878    Death  of  V 


icior  Kmanuel.      Death  (.f  the  <,Teat  I' 


IX.  (|)age  273).      Flection  of  Pope  Leo  .\III.  ( 


,us 


Scotland. 


|)age 


uei-arcTiy  Is  re-esfablistied  in 


V' 

■\ 

i' 

j 

Mi: 

*■■ 

!:    f 


312 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


^t^ 


A.D 

1880  The  Jesuits  and  (Aher  religious  orders  are  banished 

from  France.  ,         . 

1881  -Hierarchy  in  Poland  and  Eussia. 

The  six  Popes  of  the  nineteenth  century  are: 

258.  Pius  VII.,  from  1800  to  18a.3.  I  2fil.  GregoryXVI.",from  183Uo  18^0 

259.  Leo  XII.,       "      1823  "   182!(.  hjfl2.  Pius  I:JC,  "     :84C  "  1878 
860.  Pius  Vm.,     "    ,1829  "   1830.    203.  LeoiUl. 


<%>» 


•" 


lished 


to  l(i4U. 
i  "  1878. 


■ikm 


A  SKETCH 


OF  THE 


Church  in  America, 


BT 


JOHN  GILMARY  SHEA,  LL.D. 


■-      i    ^ 

n| 
il  Hi 


THE  CIirRCII  IX  AMERICA. 


,.'  I 


CIIAPTKR  I. 


Spanish  Amorioa— Ircliuid  aiul  G 


bus— Miss 


ji't'c'iilaiKl 


lOIIS- 


A  See  f(. 


-Tlie  Y 


oyage  of  Colum- 


oxico,  Central  and  Soulli  Am 


indettat  St.  Doniingo-Tlie  Clmrci 


1  m 


Zeal— Tile  1) 


icrica— A  Bis! 


—Saints  in   tlie  Episcoi 


onunicans  oppose  Indian  Slavery— Ind 


iiop  Martyr  to  lii.^ 


ian  .Missions 


N 


)ate  and  ii,   the  Clergy  and   Rcgu 


egn>  Slavery  an^|Bles.sed  Peter  Claver-Hrazil-Martv 
Sea— 1  lie  Sujipression  of  tlie  Jesuits— 'I 
lievolt  of  tlie  Spanish  I 


lar.- 


-yrs  on  the 


of  the  Holy  See— Pius  IX.  in  A 


■rovinces— Decline  of  Reli 


lie  French  Kevolutioi 


iirion- 


in 


lerica— The  famous  SI 


-Efforts 


irine- 


The  d 


pher  Co  1  limb 


scovery  of  (he  Nc-uAVorld  by  t) 


U.S    ( 


.      ic  ])i()us  Cliristo- 
)ponc(l  ii  new  eoiitiMcnt   to  the  Chiireli 


tlie  d 


priest  .of  the  ancient  Order  of  St.  Heiu'd 


iscoverer,  and  Ma^ 


ict  iiecompanied 


to  con 


sec  rale  th(>  new 


ss  was  offered  uj)  in  (he  WcM  Ind 


les 


Nowl 


loiiiKl  iiinil 


en 


»    nh^n 


faitl 


oKsein  (lie  wes(ern  world  was  tlie  Christian 


'    spr^Hling   its    l,o-ht.    except    ,n    fceland.    wl 
f'V>nvh,,  with  a  bi,sliop,:ind  clero-y,  had   subsisted  f 


lere   a 


centuries,      (ireenh-md  had 
a  .series  of  bishops  had 


oeen  swejit  away,  and   in   14!tv' 


or  some 

'Hleed   received  tlic  faitii.  and 

vcrned  the  Church  (here.  butTdl 


mark  (he 


A 


<po(. 


s  set  tie rn 


liKlies  and  plant  c()h)n 


V  only  rums  remained  to 


poiii-ed  over  from  Spain  to  colonize  t] 


ics 


South  Americ'i,  cler-y.  both  .secular  and  reoul 
minister  (o  Ihe 'Spaniards  and 


10  West 
<»"   'be  mainland  of  .North  and' 

ii\  came  to 


'<>   instruct    the  nat 


(he 


le  jmre  doc(rincs  of  Christ.      'I'he  Chiircl 


ives  in 


I) 


ivinc  injunction  to  .n<,  ..,iid  teach  all  nat 


1   refnemberc<l 


ions. 


ptesol  tii^  New ^orW  eattvd  out  all  the  coyetousTeeT 


Tl 


le 


iiiirs 


^  '■  i\ 


316 


CHEIST  m  HIS   CHURCH. 


r 


of  the  settlers,  and  the  clergy  had  a  great  struggle  to  check 
vice  of  all  kinds,  and  especially  cruel  oppression  of  the 
Indian  tribes  who  inhabited  the  country.     Churches  were 
established  in  the  West  India  islands,  and  an  episcopal  see 
was  erected  at  Saint  Domingo  in  1513,  and  a  few  .years 
after  there  were  bishops  at  Yucatan  and  Santiago  de  Cuba. 
When  Cortez  conquered  Mexico,  Pather  Bartholomew  de 
Olmedo,  of  the  Order  of  Mercy,  and  the  Rev.  John  Diaz 
began  their  labors  amon'-g  Indians  and  white&r     The  for- 
mer of  these  pioneej-s  of  the  faith  in  North  America  soon 
won  the  crown  of  martyrdom.     In  1527  Mexico  peceived 
her  first  bishop  in  the  person  of  Julian  Garces,  J^shop  of 
.  Tlascala.     The  city  of  Mexico  became  a  see  in  1530   the 
first  bishop  being  the  Eight  Rev.' John  de  Zumarraga.' 

Soon  after,  Central  America  had  bishops  at  Nicaragua, 
Guatemala,  and  Panama ;  and,  as  the  Sj^mish  power  ad.' 
vanced,  episcopal  sees  were  erected  at  Carthagena;  and  at 
Cuzco,  the  seat  of  the  Inca  power ;  and  before  the  close 
of  the  sixteenth  century  there  were  bishops  at  Paraguay, 
La   Plata,    Santiago  de   Chile,  and   Buenos  Ayres.     The 
nominations  to  these  sees  were  all  made  by  the  Spanish 
kings,  to  whom  the  Holy  See  granted  extensive  powers  in 
America.     The  early  bishoi)s  were  alm'ost  all  remarkable 
men— full  of  zeal,  laboring  earnestly  to  bring  to  orderly 
lives  both  rulers  and  people,  who  were  alike  in  those  wild 
times  disposed  to  excess.     They  preached  the  Gospel  fear- 
lessly, and  not  without  danger.     One  of  them,  the  holy 
Bishop  Valdivieso,  of  Nicaragua,  actually  died  by  the  hand 
of  a  governor  whom  he  rebuked.     The  Spanish  monarchs 
assigned  part  of  their  revenues  from  mines  for  the  erection 
of  churches;  the  religious  Orders  sent  colonies  to  the  vari- 
ous provinces,  establishing  seminfiries,  colleges,  hospitals;' 
and  a  new  Order,  that  of  Bethlehem,  for  the  care  of  the 
sick,  arose  in  Guatemala,  founded  by  the  Venerable  Peter 
de  Betancurt.  ^ 

"^^^  ^^^^^^J^^^^^^lh^^A  ^he  protector  nf  the  poor 


THE  CHURCH  m  AMERICA. 


317 


and  afflicted.     In  America  she  threw  her  shield  over  tlTe 
Indians;  as  early  as  1511  the  eloquent  Dominican  friar 
Antonio  de  Montcsino,  one  of  the  pioneer  missionaries  in 
this  part  of  tlie  New  World,  raised  his  voice  at  St.  Domingo 
against  the  system  of  enslaving  the  natives,  and  the  great 
Las  Casas,  Bjshop  of  Chiapa,  a  religious  of  the  same  Order 
devoted  his  whole  life  to  relieve  the  Indians  from  oppres- 
sion.  Meanwhile  throughout  Spanish  America,  Dominican 
Iranciscan,  Jesuit,  and  Augustinian  religious  were  study- 


Columbus  Planting  tbe  Cross  in  America. 


ing  the  almost  countless  languages  of  the  aborigines  • 
drawing  up  grammars  and  dictionaries  foi-future  mission- 
aries, and  compiling  works  in  the  native  dialects  for  the 
instniction  of  Indian  catechumens  and  converts.  Bv  these 
missions  millions  of  the  aborigines,  not  only  in  the  half- 
civihzed  states  of  Mexico,  New  Granada,  Peru,  and  New 
Mexico,  but  in  the  wildest  and  fiercest  tribes^of  the  wilder- 
ne^werewontoChristia^t^  11^^  great  Jesn it  nriemonB 
Qf  Paraguay,  and  subsequently  the  Franciscan  missions  iu 


ly 


yx 


.     "'^1 


'> 


I;  I 


■  \ 


r 


-''     ^,.'     .A-    ,J'^  >. 


;y0^^i'^y 


■■:i 


.^'Vv 


318 


CHKIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


California,  remain  in  history  as  monunionts  of  the  zeal  and 
laborious  efforts  of  the  missionaries,  many  of  whom  died  by 
^.  the  hands  of  those  to  wlionrthcy  bore  the  Gosj)el  of  i)eace. 
The  bis]io])s  founded  seminaries,  held  provincial  councils 
and  diocesan  synods:  one,  St.  Turribius  Mogrobeio,  Bislioj) 
of  Lima  (loTS-lGOG)^  is  already  can<)iiiml;\ind  ihe  process 
of  Bishop  Mendiola  of  (Suadalajara  ^g^ori-Tfi),  Bisho]) 
Aguiar  of  Mexico  (1(hSJ-98),  and  Bishop  Palaf ox  of  Puebla 
(1640—55),  were  introduced  at  E(yne,  with  the  sanction  of 
the  Popes.  ,  -      .     . 

Led  by  such  ^xami)les,  clergy  and  religious  showM  simi- 
lar fervor.  St.  L(niis  Bertrand  labbred  for  years  in  Colum- 
bia; St.  Francis  Solano  in  La  Plata  and  Peru;  the  Blessed 
John  Masias,  Martin  Pon-as  and  Sebastian  of  the  Appari- 
tion, lay  brothel-s  of  the  Orders -of  St.  Domijiic  and  St 
Francis,  editied  all  by  their  holy  life  ;  St.  Eose  of  Lima  and 
Bjessca  Mariana  of  Quito  became  mcKlels  for  holy  virgins. 
.  The  introduction  of  negro  slaves  into  America  gave  the 
Church  a  new  flock  to  save.  The  Blessed  Peter  CJaver  de- 
voted his  life  to  them,  becoming  the  slave  of  the  slave. 

Brazil,  settled  by  the  Portuguese,  followed  the  svstcm  of 
the  Spanish  colonies,  and  had  an  ei)iscopal  see  at  Bahia  in 
1550;  and  for  a  time  religion  flourished  in  the  settlements 
and  in  the  Indian  mission,  where  the  Yen.  Father  Anchieta 
led  his  wonderful  life.  •     ' 

When  Protestantism  gained  a  foothold  in  some  states  of 
Euroi)e,  the  missionaries  on  their  way  to  America  were  ex- 
posed to  fearful  dangers  before  they  reached  the  field  where 
they  were  to  labor.  Piratical  cruisers,  veiling  their  cruel 
ra})acity  under  a  ])retext  of  religion,  murdered  all  Catholic  . 
missionaries  found  on  vessels  that  fell  into  their  hands.  In 
this  way  the  Blessed  Peter  Azevedo  and  thirty-nine  com- 
panions were  martyred  on  their  voyage  to  Brazil. 

Religion  continued  to  be  maintained  and  extended  in 
Spanish  America  till  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  when 
it  recejved  a  severe  blowj_ii  the  expulsion  of  tbn  Jesuits  by. 


<*    "■ 


cl 

sr 


THE   CHURCH   IX   AMERICA. 


319 


order  of  Charles  III.     Missions  were  everywhere  broken 
up  and  scattered,  colleges  and  seminaries  were  .closed,  and 


•l. 


St.  Rose  of  Lima. 


Churches  left  desolate.     The  state  in  vain  endeavored  to 
supply  the  void  ihus  crea^e^  Some  of  the  other  religious^ 


-  -  ^-.v..l^^  ^^i  Liiu  uLijtT  reiisrious 

-Orders  liad  growivealtHy7Md:iladlost  their  early  fenrorj 


l|: 


'M' 


r 


^ 


-% 


j:<b 


320 


OHEIST  IN   HI8   CHURCH. 


the  system  of  lay  j)atronage  had  placed  many  uhworthy  per- 
sOTis  in  the  benefices  of  the  secular  clergy,  and  a  general  de- 
cline of  religion  followed.  When  the  French  Rev«lutiop 
broke  out,  the  infidel  doctrines  that  produced  it  spread  in 
books  to  Spanish  America,  and  did  more  to  wreck  the 
faith  of  that  once  Catholic  peoj)le. 

^    Revolutions   began  in  the  provinces  from  Mexico  to 
latagonia,    and   gradually   the   Spanish    authorities   and 
forces  Avere   expelled,  and   new  governments,  nominallv 
repubhcitn,  were  set  up.     Brazil  followed  a  similar  course 
\U  became  an  Emi)ire  under  a,  prince  of  the  royal  family 


of  Portugal 


In  these  revolutions  most  of  the  bishops  were  driven 
out  as  adherents  of  Sj.ai.,,,  and  for  years  religion  was  at  a 
iow  ebb.  Gradually,  Freemasonry,  introduced  into  Mexico 
from  the  United  States,  s],read  over  Spanish  America  an<l 
Jirazil,  and  most  of  the  leitding  men  becoming  its  du])es 

and  tools,  no  longer  concealed  their  hostility  to  religion  In 
all  these  countries  the  Church  has  been  for  many  years  at 
the  sport  of  im],.ou8  men.  Bishops  are  imprisoned  or  exiled 
-  for  doing  their  duty,  religious  Orders  and  convents  are  sup- 
pressed, all  attempts  at  reform  are  checked;  even  the  pious 
sodalities  and  confraterniticvs  attached  to  the  churches  are 
made  an  instrument  to  oppress  and  insult  the  church. 

The  Holy  See  Ihis  been  unceasing  in  its  vigilance  and 
efforts  to  revive  religion,  and  has  repeatedly  sent  pious  and 
iible  men  to  operate  the  needed  reform.  With  one  of 
these,  Monsignor  Musi,  sent  by  I»(,pc  Pius  VII.,  came  th(. 
Ahbate  Mastai  Ferretti,  afterwards  the  famous  Pius  L\ 
who  spent  two  years  in  Buenos  Avres,  Chili,  and  Peru: 

Yet  the  faith  is  not  dead.  There  are  many  learned  and 
pious  bishops  andj.riosts,  and  the  pilgrimages  to  Our 
l^jdy  of  Gumlalupo  in  Mexico,  and  to  Our  Lady  of  Caiu.- 
^bana  in  Bolivia,  show  that  the  faith  is  still  alive,  and 
that,  under  better  auspices,  religion  may  revive  and 
regain  itti  oarly  mid-Jmpyior  inflwiiw. — — 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Catholic  Church  in  the  Luited  States— Catholic  Explorers— 
Spanish  Attempts  at  Settlement— The  Englisli  Colonies— Lord 
Baltimore— Catholicity  coeval  with  the  Settlement  of  Mary-, 
land— Its  Progress— The  Puritan  Persecutipn— Oppression  of  the 
Catholics— Apostasy  of  Loril  Baltimore— The  Church  in  Penn- 
sylvania—The  Acadian  Confessors  of  the  North— The  Revolu- 
tion—Services of  Catholics— Influence  of  the  AUiunce  with 
France. 

The  United  States  ai-e  remarkable  for  tlieir  rapid  growth 
in  wealth  and  i)roducts  the  energy  of  the  people,  their 
great  i)ublie  works,  and  tlie  general  diffn.sion  of  education, 
and  for  being  the  most  successful  re])ublic  yet  seen  in  the 
world.  The  spread  of  Catholicity  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  features  in  the  history  of  the  Country. 

In  1770,  P^ngland  was  undisi)uted  nuister  of  all  North 
America  east  of  the  Mississipju  River,  but  on  the  4th  of 
July  in  that  year,  thirteen  of  the  colonies  between  Can- 
ada and  Florida  be(!ame  an  independent  country,  since 
known  as  the  IIiMted  States.*  At  tliut  time  the  ■Catholic 
religion  had  scarcely  a  foothold. 

Tlie  eiirly  explonu-s  of  the  coast.,  Cabot,  Verazzano, 
Gomez,  were  Catholics.  As  early  as  1521,  Dominicans 
reared  a  Catholic  chajtel  in  Viiginin;  twenty  vears  later, 
the  Dominican  Father  Cancer  |)erished  in  an  attempt  to 
found  a  mission  in  Florida.  That  colony  was  settled  by 
Melendez  in  1565,  and  a  church  estiU)lished  at  St.  Augus'- 
tine,  with  attendant  priests;  settlenunits  were  also  made 
on  the  St.  John's,  and  at  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina. 
These  were  also  attended  by  priests.  Jesuit^misHion- 
.^^^'^^J'.^M^^Q  ^"«*'^'"ct  the  nat|vea^   and    oyji^l^o,]   thflr 


! 


labors  as  far  north  as  the    Rappahannock,  Where  .two 


ii 


Ill 


322 


!  ^ 


urn 


CHRIST  IN  HIS   CHURCH. 


Jesu  t  Fathers  and  several  companions  died  by  the  hands 
of  the   Indians.     A  fe.v  years   later,   Franciscans  S 

-hed  a  convent  at  «t.   Augustine,  and   converted   the 
limuquans,  Apalaches,  and  other  tribes  of  Florida      T 
Order  too  had  its  martyrs  in  Father  Corpa  and  h L  tmp 
;on,  ^,M  by  apostate  Indians  in  T5.7^  and  in  r^^^: 

ing  of  the  eighteenth  century  in  the  Fathers  slain,  amid 

I  cnMcola,  founded  in  1G99,  hud  its  church  and  clergy,  with 
nispis  among  the  neighboring  tribes,     l^hese  I panish 
settlements,   beside   the  parish   churches,  had    hospitals, 
hermitages  or  rural  chapels,  confraternities,  and  were  vis- 
ited  rom  time  to  time  by  the  bishops  of  Santiago  de  Cuba 
in  whose  diocese  they  were.     At   times,  auxiliary  bishops 
of  thn   diocese  resided  for  several  years  at  St.  Augustine. 
•         When  Honda  was  ceded  1„  Fngland  in  1703,  the  Span- 
ish I'opulation   withdrew,  but  a  large  body  of  Minorcans 
onngrated   to   the   colony,  and    linally  settled  with  their  ' 
Clergy  ,it   St.    Augiustine,    where    their   descendants   still 
ronia.n      I  uo  bi.shops  in  (he  United  States  have  sprung 
from  this  g(K)<l  Catholic  stock. 

The  Fnglish  coloflics  were  all  settled  after  the  unity  of 
he  fa.th  in  Europe  ha.i  been  broken  by  the  vagaries  of 
Luther,  Calvin,  lleniy  VHI.,  nnd  other  innovators^  Prot- 
estants, though  professing  to  advocate  private  judgment 
never  j.ermitted  it;  and  many  of  the  settlements  in  Amer- 
ica werd  founded  by  Protestants,  and  others  who  sought  to 
escaj)e  from  J'rotestant  persecution. 

Virginia,  settle.l  in  ICOi),  maintitinod  the  Church  of 
Kngland.  Enghsh  separatists,  who  had  first  emigrated  to  ' 
"<'Ih>h1  founded  Plymouth  Cofony  in  1021;  and  Puritans 
in  1(,.K)  begjvi  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  Rhode 
Island  was  founded  soon  after  by  the  zealot  Hoaer  Will-  . 
nims,  who  had  been  driven  from  Massachusetts;  and  Con. 
neeticut  was  a,,  offshoot  of  Massachusetts,  settled  by  men 
of  the  strictest  Puritan  ideas.     All  these  .oinn;./ ^nm 


w 


THE   CirUKOTI   IT^    AMERICA. 


323 


intensely  Protostiinl,  and  no  Catholics  entered  them  except 
when  sent  over  as  bondmen.  Dutch  Calvinists  settled  on 
the  Hudson,  Swedish  Lutherans  on  the  Delaware,  each  as 
much  opposed  to  Catholics  as  their  English  neighbors. 
From  all  this  part  the  t^eOhurch  seemed  to  be  excluded 
forever. 

Lord  Baltimore,  a  Catholic  nobleman,  after  trying  to 
colonize  Newfoundland,  sought  a  milder  climate.  The 
bigotry  of  Virginia  refused  him  admission  there,  and  he 
obtained  a  liberal  charter  for' the  now  colony  of  Maryland 
on  the  Potomac.  The  first  settlement  was  made  at  St. 
Mary's  in  1G;]4,  by  Leonard  Calvert,  who  canw  over  with 
two  hundred  families  of  emigrants,  many  of  whom  were 
Catholics.  They  were  accompanied  by  Jesuit  Fathers, 
whose  ministry  in  Maryland  has  been  ])eri)etuatdil  to  our 
times.  These  Catholic  4)ricsts  were  for  many  years  the 
only  clergy  in  the  province,  and  most  of  the  Protestant 
sejttlors,  left  without  church  or  i)re*tther,  emltraccd  the 
fiSth of  their  CathoHc  neighbors.  ?^everal  of  the  native 
tril>es  were  converted,  with  Cbilamacon.  the  king  or  prin- 
cii)al  chief  in  that  part. 

The  charter  of  Maryland  was  remarkable  for  its  liber- 
ality, while  the  earliest  legislation  of  the  colony  established 
religious  freedom,  and  cheeked  all  that  was  calculated  to 
disturb  harmony  ;  but  a  body  of  Puritans,  to  whom  the 
colony  afforded  an  asylum,  availing  themselves  of  the 
overthrow  of  the  monarchy  in  England  and  the  esiablish- 
meut  of  the  commonwealth,  rose  against  the  authorities  in 
Maryland,  defeated  the  (Jovenior,  i>ut  many  Catholics  to 
deatJi,  transported  the  priests  to  England,  and  j)assed 
penal  laws,  j)rohibiting  the  services  of  the  Church. 

The  restoration  of  Charles  H.  brought  some  relief,  and 
the  brief  reign  of  his  Catholic  brother,  James,  who  had 
become  Proprietor  of  New  York,  o|)eii(Ml  tiuit  colony  to 
Catholics.     A  few  settled  there,  and  Knglish  Jesuits,  co- 


Opofating  with  EIioso  In  IffuryTancT,  I)cgaa  mrssTcHiis  Tn  Tfew 


324 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH, 


onU    V.ll,,,,„  I.,.„„,  ,|„i,.|,ly  ,„l,ni,,,„i  VM,Aics;La  Z- 

Ma,T  ,uu  ,  „.v(o,„l,„g  l,l,„i,.  iHbors  to  Ponnsylvuni,. 

Uh.  ,loU,n,„OM„.,i(  „f  ,I™,o,,  11.  ,.„dtho  clovution  of 

IH.U.I  biwsm,  n„.ny„nho  clonies;  H,c  missi  n«  i„  N,.,v 

U.-k  CC«0d;    tl,.  C.lhuli,.,  i„   M,„.yl,„„l  „,,,   ,,„|,j,,,|,„|  t„ 

c iouble  U.CVS  ,>„.l  ,,,.|,,iv.,l  „f  ,„a„y  Hgbl*;  tho  C  „„.  b 
Kngbmd  w,«  ,..„bli.«b.,l  by  law,  and  Catb^lios  wore  ,    , 

!  ''"'  *"  "'"';■"-"'«  »  -Pi«.rt.     To  ,„-..ve,„,  all  i  . 

^cp,  of  ,b„  f„,(bf„|  ,,,  i„„„ig,,tio,vtbc  infoduclion  of 
lallioIioK  was  jirobibital  by  law.      - 
■        To  tb..  gn\.f  of   (bo  tiatbobes,  L«r,l  I!aHin,o,o.  from 

f.,nl,es    lod.b,v  l,„  cvan.plo  and   Iboir  own  ..owai'dicc 

I        r.     "f '•/"";'■"■'"'  >"i-i'M.»:  H.ul  from  ll,at  li.no 

'"^  ";■""''" .<lH..I,..,„itFatbor,,  in  Maryland  were 

f  ub.o.onnnna.nlbofailbandmini.lcrlo-fbefail.b- 
<*>tl,6lu..,    ,„    Marylan.l.  b„l    Bongbl,   lbo«.   i„   Virmda- 

.^c'V  orcvlod  ,.|nu-..bo«  in  r.an,.a«,or  and  I'biladol     r  L; 
br.   .,,ara.oobnrebes  ,n  tb,-  ,.o, es.  f.n- in  Mar  i:;;,    « 

U'''  l'''l  "a-  "llowod  o«.c,,t  a«  part  of  a  dwollin'r  bouse 
-.1  ..nder  tbe   san.e   roof.     t„   ii„„,  ,.f  ,,,„;,    .eH^^ 
.  -sad.  v,sdod  Ibe  sick  so  devolodly  ,,b,d     be  ,. X,™ 
.  .•rgv  ,.„„,p,a,„ed  ,,o  ,1,0  ,o«i«,an,re;  bnUbe  nndam" 

Man.i  of  tbe  Catbolio  sotllers   in    Ponnsylvaiua  were 

obtained      ome    Falbors    from    (lormany.       They    were 
l.«.,ed  and  zealons  n.en.  and  in  tbeir  a,>o,tolio  journe™ 
™>cl;od  «,„ttered  Catbolios  in  Now  Jersey  and  Now  Y"rk 
Ibo  frequent  wars  witb  Franee  and  Spain   whose  ool 


THE   CHURCH  IN  AMERICA. 


825 


and,  from  time  to  time,  subjected  the  CutholiGS  to  fresh 
persecutions.  In  1755  seven  thousand  French  Catholics, 
who  luid  l)cen  for  more  than  forty  xears  under  British  rule 
in  Nova  Scotia,  were  torn  from  their  homes,  and  scattered 
in  utter  destitution  along  the  coast  from  Massachusetts 
to  Georgia.  Most'  of  them  by  degrees  reached  tlie  West 
Indies,  Louisiana,  or  Cauada ;  those  who  were  sent  to 
Baltimore,  however,  remained,  and  were  attended  by  the 
Jesuit  Fathers,  wlio  thus  for  the  first  time  began  regular 
labors  in  that  cit.y. 

The  (iondition  of  Catliolics  in  the  country  can  thus  be 
seen.  There  were  no  clergy  out  of  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  missionary  excursions  extended  only  to 
Virginia,  at  the  South,  and  to  New  Jersey,  and  after  a 
time  to  New  York,  at  the  North.  Except  in  the  neigh- 
borlu)od  of  the  churclies  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  chapels 
under  the  roofs  of  the  houses  of  the  missionaries  in  Mary- 
land, Catholics  had  to  travel  many  miles,  sometimes  more 
than  a  hundred,  when  the  'roads  werq  wretched,  in  order 
to  enjoy  the  consolation  of  hearing  Mass,  of  receiving  the 
Sacraments,  even  once  a  year,  or  of  being  married  by  a 
l)riest.  There  were  no  Ciltholic  schools,  except  an  acad- 
emy nniintained  for  a  time  \^y  the  Jesuit  Fathers  on  the 
Ejistern  shore,  and'  while  the  wealthy  could  send  their 
children  to  the  Catholic  institutions  on  the  continent  of 
Europe,  those  less  favored  with  worldly  means  trained 
their  children  in  the  faith  at  home.  Catholic  books  were 
scarce  and  'liighly  prized ;  priests  wrote  out  the  whole 
Missal  for  use;  and  among  the  people  it  was  not  unusual 
to  coi)y  a  book  which  they  could  borrow;  for  it  was  not 
often  that  they  could  buy. 

Laws  and  publi(!  ojiinion  were  against  them,  and  their 
position  generally  was  a  hard  one;  but  a  change  was  at 
hand,  prepared  in  the  designs  of  Providence, 
The  fall  of  Canada  and  the  oc(!Ui)atioii  of  Florida  ro- 


lievfd  ^tlre  IBUgtislF-  coTontes:  oT  aH  feare"  from  Uatholio  ^ 


ill 


i 

■ 

! 

' 

nf 


rf 


#3 


326 


CHRIST   IN   ma   CHURCH. 


neighbors,  but  trouble  at  once  ensued  bctvveen  America 
und  the  mother  country.  The  toleration 'granted  tlie 
,  Catiiolics  in  Canada  was  one  of  the  grievances  of  the  Eno-J 
hsh  colonies,  and  excited  bitter  feelings  ngainst  the.kiir<r 
mul. Parliament.  The  Catholics  in  the  colonies,  howevei^ 
enjoyed  comparative  quiet.  .  '' 

When  the  colonies  finally  took  up  arms  in  defence  of  ' 
the  rights  which  they  claimed,  tlio  Catholics  of  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania  all  joined  heartily  with  their  fellow- 
countrymen,  and  used  their  jnlluence  to  bring  the  people 
of  ganada  and  the  western  country  to  espouse  the  cause 
of  the  United  States.      ' 

In  the  West  the  settlers  of  French  origin  and  the  Indian  ' 
tribes  under  their  influence,  acting' in   concert  with  the 
Kev.  1.  Gibault,  j.arish  priest  at  Kaskaskia,  secured  the 
JNorth-west  to  the  United  States. 

Canada  and  the  Indians,  formerly  under  French  influ- 
ence in  Maine  Canada,  and  the  West,  were  fi^^orablyincliAed 
to  the  United  States;  the  great  Catholic  powers  in  Europe 
not  only  recognized  the  new  Government,  but  sent  envoys 
to  represent. them,  and  checked  England  in  her  work  of 
hiring  troops  in  Germany  to^'f^ght  again.t  the  Americans, 
i^iimlly,  trance  openly  took  jmrfwith  tho  United  States 
and  sent  an  army  and  fleets  to  co-oi>erate  with  the  Amer- 
ican forces;  and  Spain,  declaring  war  on  England,  attacked 
her  111  Morula  and  the  West. 

All  this  made  the  Catholic  Church  le*s  unpopular, 
and  when  the  war  finally  closed  with  the  impetuous  dash 
of  I  rench  and  American  on  the  works  at  Yowktown.  much 
of  the  bigotry  entertained  against  the  Church  nt  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  .had  faded  away.  Many  of  the 
.S  ates  set  aside  by  their  constitutions  all  the  unjust  penal 
hiWs  against  Catholics;  in  Others  the  most  obnoxious  parts 
wore  laid  aside,  and  tho  lest  became  almost  a  dead  letter 


CHAPTER  III. 

Spiritual  Dependence  of  American  Catholics— They  ask  a  Prefect— 
Very  ]lev.  John  Cknoll  Mppointed-Conditiou  of  the  (Miurch- 
Ills  Visitation- Necdssity  for  a  Bisliop-iViiUou  of  the  Clergy- 
-  The  See.of  Baltiiuore  eslahlishcd-Ri^rht  R,.v.  Jolm  Urroll— 
Exteut  of  his  Diocese  includes  part  of  the  Diocese  of  Quehec— 
Keligiou  inCanada-lts  Miosious  and  Martyrs-English  Conquest 
ol  the  Colony— Present  State.  i  } 

Up  t(5  this  time  tlie  Catholics  in  Muryhmd  and  the  other 
old  colonies  hud  been  subject  to  the  Vicar  Apostolic  of 
London  ;  iind  tliose  in  the  French  settlements  on  the  Mis- 
■  sissi])])i  iind  the  liikeswere  subject  to  the  Bishop  of  Quebec. 
Both  ,these  bishops  were  in  British  territory,  and  for  the 
Catholics  in  the  United -States  to  remain  in  dependence  on 
them  .might  awaken  i)rejudice  among  Aniericatis,  who  still 
viewed  everything  English  with  distrust. 
.    The  clergy  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  were  nearly 
all  priests  who  had  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Jesus  be- 
fore its  extinction  ;  in  the  West  the  few  secular  i)riests  were 
from  Caiiiida,  none  of  the  0I4  Jesuit  missiomirics  surviving. 
Besides   these   there  were  a  few  priests  without   regular 
faculties  who  had  settled  in  the  country.     Innnigration  was 
already  beginning,  and,  as  it  included"  a  number  of  Catho- 
lics, the  clergy  saw. that  they  must  be  provided  for,  and 
that  it  was  necessary  t(^have  a  head  and  means  for  recruit-  , 
ing  i)riests."  ^  Nedfrly  all  were  opposed  to  the  ajjpointment 
of  a  bishop.  .    , 

They  accordingly  petitioned  the  Holy  See  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  superior.  The  Holy  "Seo  had  already 
taken  into  consideration  the  stat^  of  tlio  Church  in  this 
country,  and  Pope  Pius  VLyu  the  9th  day  of  June,  1784, 
appointed  Rev.  John  (.^aiToll,  Prefect  Apostolic  of  Jhe 
J' uiijid,  Stutes^  Xa  t4irffl«-4vk  ttutlwrity  t^xttmdetl-ta  ttir=^ 


?!     •  I 


iJ!i 


i 

titr 

if 


I 


i 


'I  <  j 


ittl 

11    '  i 

if 


828 


0HEI8T   m  HIS   CHURCH. 


J 


whole  republic,  but  the  western  part  continued  to  be  sub- 
ject to  the  Bishop  of  Quebec. 

The  appointment  of  Dr.  Carroll  gave  great  pleasure  to 
the  Catholic  clergy  and  ],eoplo.     Father  John  Carroll  was 
well  knotVn,  and  fromhis  services  in  the  Revolution  As 
favorably  regarded  by  the  government.    He  was  empowered 
to  administer  the  sacrament  of  Confirmatisn,  which  had 
never  been  conferred  in  what  had  been  the  Englisli  colonies 
As  he  proceeded  to  visit  tlie  various  congregations,  old 
and  young   flocked   to  receive   that  sacrament  from  his 
hands,  feeling  how  much  they  needed  the  Holy  Ghost,  with 
all  his  gifts  and  graces,  to  confirm  them  in  their  faith. 
.      The  Holy  See  asked  a  report  on  the  numbers,  condition 
and  prospects  of  the  Catholics  in  the  United^States,  and 
asked  that  two  young  men  wljo  showed  a  vocation  for  the 
ecclesiastical  state  should  be  sent  to  Rome  to  study. 

To  carry  out  these  wishes  was  the  first  care  of  the  Pre- 
fect Apostolic.  His  own  residence  was  at  Rock  Creek 
Where  he  attended  the  neighboring  Catholics  and  a  mission 
sixty  miles  distant  in  Virginia.  Eighteen  other  priests 
were  scattered  in  the  various  missions  in  Maryland  four 
too  old  and  infirm  for  any  further  work.  These  various 
stations  were  Dr.  Carroll's  first  care. 

After  visiting  these  the  Prefect  Apostolic  set  out  for  the  ' 
missions  in  Pennsylvania,  comprising  St.  Joseph's  and 
St.  Marys  in  Phih.delphia,  St.  John  Nej.omucene's  at 
Lancaster,  St.  Paul's  in  Goshenhoppen,  and  St.  Francis 
Regis  in  Conewago.  These  had  all  been  under  th&  Jesuit 
leathers  and  been  founded  by  them.  But  there  were  be- 
sides, Catholics  scattered  in  various  parts  who  had  in  some 
cases  priests  from  Europe. 

The  Very  Rev.  Mr.  Carroll  left  home,  to'  visit  Philadel-   • 
phia,  New  York,  and  the  upper  counties  o^  the  Jerseys 
and  PeHusylvania,  there-too  to  administer  the  sacrament    ^ 
of  Confirmation. 

^1^^^  Pennsylvania  missions  long  established  gratified 


^ 


4 


■Y 


THE;pHURCH   IN   AMERI(%|# 


329 


him  by  tlieir  i)ietj^aiid  zeal  ;  but  New  York,  where  tlie 
-  congregation  gathemcl  before  and  since  (the  war  by  the 
venerable  Fatiieij^Fafmor  had  been  confided  to  the  Fran- 
ciscan, F.  Charkis  Whelan,  showed  a  8j)irit  less  in  harmony 
with  the  discipline  iind  government  of  the  Church. 

Besides  these  missions,  tidings  came  from  various 
quarters  of  Catholics  who  now  sought  a  priest  and  wished 
to  erect  chai)ols.  At  Boston,  at.  Norfolk,  at  Charleston, 
on  the  Monon^ahela,  in  Kentucky  and  illlinois,  CathoHcs 
no  longer  under  penal  laws  avowed  their  faith,  and  found 
many  others  around  them  to  be- Catholics.  Here  and 
there  a  i)riest  appeared,  ex-chaplains  in  the  French  navy 
who  were  attracted  by  the  country,  or  jjricsts  from  abroad. 
Dr.  Carroll  had  no  i)ower  to  receive  new  priests  and  grant 
them  faculties.  With  the  clergy  in  the  country  he  at  once 
urged  the  Holy  Sec  .to  erect  an  episcopal  sec  and  give  the 
Catholics  in  the  United  States  what  the  Episcopalians 
were  about  to  have,  a  bishop.  That  no  offence  might  bo 
taken  by  the  Federal  or  State  authorities,  it  was  asked  that 
the  selection  of  the  candidate  be  left  to  the  clergy. 

Dr.  Carroll  encouraged  the  commencement  of  the  publi- 
cation of  Catholic  works,  projected  a  college  and  seminary, 
and  scntto'Rome  two  young  candidates  foe  holy  orders. 

As  time  went  on  the  number  of  Catholics  increased  by 
immigration  and  promised  to  grow  steadily;  but  the  expe- 
rience showed  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  that  the 
establishment  of  churches  and  the  proper  support  of. 
clergymen  would  be  attended  with  peculiar  difficulties,  as 
many  of  the  laity,  witnessing  the  systems  pursued  in  the 
Protestant  denominations,  began  to  claim  for  the  congre- 
■  gation,  wherever  one  was  formed,  the  right  to  choose  a 
priest  to  suit  their  fancy  and  make  his  salary  subject  to 
their  caprice. 

Except   in  Maryland,  where  from  the  settlement  the 
cler^had  possessed  property,  which   made  them,  in  a 
^-xaeaaure,  iudepeudent  of  fhetr^ocSBT^EBr^plTeW  Iiad  lo^ 


.i.i 


ii' 

1    81, 


!' 


'If 

f  ■ 


: 


330 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CIirRCH. 


depend  entn-ely  on   the,,  voluntary  contributions   of  the 
;    faithful,  and  a  new  system  had  to  be  organized. 

Pius  VI.,  after  due  deliberation,  granted  tie  pj-ayer  of 
the  American  Catholics,  and  on  the  12th  of  July  '1788 
the  sacred   congregation   of  the   Propaganda  authorized 
tliem  to  select  the  city  wh^e  a  see  should  be  established 
and  to  name  the  priest  who,  in  their  judgment,  might  be 
raised  to  the  episcopal  dignity  with  the'greatest  advantage 
to  the  Church.     In  May,  1789,  the  clcrg^  then  in  the 
United  States  who  could  meet  for  the  puri)ose,  assembled 
to  the  number  of  twenty-six,  and  with  heartfelt  prayers  to 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  guide  their  deliberation,  offered  the 
holy  sacrifice  of  mass,  and  selected  Baltimore  as  the  city 
which  seemed  best  fitted  for  a  see,  as  being  the  chief  place 
ill  the  old  Catholic  colony  of  Maryland.     Almost  without 
exception  these  experienced  jiriests  united  in  recommend- 
ing to  the  Holy  Father  the  Rev,  John  Carroll  as  the  fittest 
one  to  wear  the  new  mitre,  and  assume  the  task  of  mouldino- 
into  a.Church  the  scattered  elements  in  the  broad  republic! 
i)r.  Carroll  alone  opposed  their  choice,  for  he  felt  how 
difficult  the  duties  of  (he  bishop  would  be. 
•       At  Rome  the  selection  gave  great  satisfaction,  and  on 
the  Gth  of  November,  1789,  Pius  VI.  founded  a  hierarchy 
in  the  United  States  by  his" bull  erecting  the  See  of  Balti- 
more, and  appointed  the  Right  Rev.  Joiin  Carroll  the  first 
bishop,  authorizing  him  to  receive  episcopal  consecration  - 
from  any  bishop  he  might  select. 

The  Diocese  of  BiUtimore  thus  created  comprise^  the 
whole  United  States,  and  any  portion  which  had  previously 
been  subject  to  any  other  see  .was  withdrawn  from  its  juris- 
diction. This  added  to  what  had  been  Dr.  Carroll's  district- 
as  Prefect  Apostolic  the  French  settlements  in  the  West 
which  had  been  up  to  this  time  in  the  Diocese  of  Quebec. 
Canada  was  visited  by  the  French  almost  immediately 
after  the  voyage  of  Columbus,  by  the  pious  and  hardy 
fishermen  of  Brittai  i    -     -  -^ 


yi^ 


?usqttfi  pfeykieegf .  fo  153^ 


^ 


1^ 


? 


THE   CHURCH    IN    AMERICA. 


331 


its  great  river  was  explored  by  James  Cartier,  of  St  Male 
who  named  it  in  honor  of  the  martyr  St.  Lawrence,  and 
attempted,  a  settlement   on   its   banks.      No   j)ermanent 
colony  arose,  Ijowever,  till  the  commencement  of  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

Nova  Scotia  and  Canada,  then  settlecf  by  the  French,  had 
from  the  first  received  Catholic    missionaries.     The 'first 
settlement  on  Neutral  Island  in  Maine  had  priests,  aid  as 
Nova  Scotia  was  settled,  Jesuits,  Capuchins,  and  sfccu'lar 
priests   labored  .among   the   colonists    and    the   Indians 
exposed  constantly  to  attacks  from  the  English  in  the 
neighboring  provinces.     A  Jesuit  lay-brother  was  killed  at 
Mount  Desert  in   1613;  priests  were  on  several  occasions 
earned  off  to  Virginia  and  Massachusetts;  a  pious  Kecollcct 
lather  perished  in  the%now;  the  Jesuit  Father  Rale  was 
killed  at  his  mission  of  Norridgewalk.     Finally,  the  I^^ova 
Scotia  Catholics  were  a!rs-VVcpt  from  their  homes  and  scat- 
tered along  the  coast,  an  army  of  confessors  and  martyrs 
•^ — f©r  the  "faith. 

Canada  was  happier.     Champlain  founded  Qliebec  and 
the  colony  was  directed  by  Recollect  or  Franciscan  Fatliers 
who  were  subsequently  aided  by  the  Jesuits  till  1629,  when 
the  colony  was  captured  by  England.     After  its  restora- 
tion  m   1632,  the  Jesuits   resumed  their  labors^  revived 
the  missions  among  the  various  Indian  tribes  from  the  St 
iHwrence  to  Lake  Huron,  and  founded  a  college  at  Quebec* 
The  Sulpitians,  another  body  of  learned  priests,  founded 
the  settlement  of  Montreal,  and  both  towns  soon  had  cori- 
vent.schools  and  hospitals  for  the,  sick.     The  Indian  tribes 
along  the  St.  Lawrence  were  instructed  in  the  faith  and 
many  were  converted.     A  great  mission  was  established  by 
the  Jesuit  Fathers  among  the  Hurons;  but  the  Iroquois,  a 
confederation  south  of  Lake  Ontario,  were  bitter  enemies 
ot  the  Canada  Indians.     They  obtained  fire-arms  from  the 
Dutch  and  destro:^ed  many  tribes.     The  Hurons  and  their 


..aiiies  lest  tdwn  after  towRTOTdwcfeffiifmfMITiTred,  cap-' 


( 


>'l       I 


M*t 


y 


332 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


tured,  or  driven  from  their  country.  Many  of  the  mis- 
sionaries die^  by  the  hands  of  these  cruel  savages,  who 
showed  a  bitter  hate  of  Catholicity.  The  missionaries  were 
not  deterred  by  all  the  torments  inflicted  on  them,  but  car- 
ried the  Gospel  to  the  nations  in  the  far  West. 

With  Christian  audacity  the  missionaries  at  the  earliest 
favorable  moment  undertook  to  civilize  the  fierce  Iroquois 
themselves,  and  made  many  converts  among  that  people. 
Led  by  Father  Simon  L(^Moyne,  they  planted  the  mis- 
sion cross  near  the  salt  springs  of  Onondaga,  and  were 
soon  from  their  bark  chapels  instructing  the  various  tribes 
from  the  Mohawk  to  tiie  Niagara,  winning  many  of 
the  warrior^  and  especially  of  the  women,  to  the  faith. 
The  pagan  party,  however,  inspired-  with  distrust  by  the 
Dutch  and  EngHsh  of  New  York,  showed  g^at  hostility  to 
the  converts.  The  missionaries  were  at  times  driven  out, 
and  finally  established  mission  villages  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence, to  which  the  converts  removed  from  the  Iroquois 
cantons.     In  this  way  several  Christian  villages  grew  up. 

While  the  progress  of  the  faith  among  the  Iroquois  gave 
peace  to  Canada  the  missionaries  gained  the  Abenakis  in" 
Maine,  and  began  new  missions  among  the  Algonquin  trib§^ 
around  Lakes  Superior  i^d  Michigan,  the  Chii)pewas,  Otta- 
was,  Menominees,  Sacs,  Foxes,  and  Miamis.     The  Win- 
nebagoes,  a  branch  of  the  Dakotas,  also  received  the  faith. 
The  pioneer  of  these  new  western  missions  was  the  ven- 
erable   Jesuit   Father,  Rene   Menard,    who   had   labored 
among  the  Hurons,  Cayugas,  and  other  tribes.     Though 
broken  by  his  severe  labors  and  by  age,  he  set  out  and  re^ed 
the  cross  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior.     He  suffim-e^ 
niuq^  from  the  medicine  men,  whose  hideous  superstifwns 
he  tried  to  suppress,  bk  often  could  only  pray  when  all 
argument  failed.     He  died  by  the  hand  of  violence  while 
trying  to  reach  some  poor  Huron  Catholics.       - 

In  1673  Father  Marquette,  accompanying  Louis  Jollict, 
an  explorer,  descended   the  Mississippi  to  the  Arkansas 


^ 


in 


l> 


'- J  ■ 


mmm 


334 


CHRIST    IN    ins    CHURCH. 


I 


and  made  known  the  course  of  that  great  river,  announcing 
the  fujtli  to  the  Illinois,  among  whom  he  began  a  mission, 
which,  checked  by  his  death,  was  soon  continued. " 

The  Church  in  Canada  for  the  iiri  fifty  years  was  con- 
sidered as  under  the  jurisdiction  f  tiie"  Archbishop  of 
Kouen,  and  was-govcrned  by  a  V'i^ai-General.  In  1058 
Francis  de  Laval  Montmorency  wa?  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Petrii3a  and  made  Vicar  Apostolic  of  New  France.  To 
protect  the  colony  against  tho/Iroquois,  troops  were  sent 


A  MIsHlonary  Dest  rpyfiig  Liquor. 

p-anco,  and  governors  api)ointed  to  whom  the 
^ence  in  Canada  was  uiusongenial.  Piety  de- 
ind  the  oflicials  in  many  points  opposed  (he  action 
of  the  clergy.  Tlu*  BLshoj,.  to  prevent  the  ruin  of  the 
Indians  by  intoxication,  took  strong  ground  against  the 
saloof  li,p,o,:.tothe  natives,  which  the  governors  encour- 
aged. 

In  the  missions  liquor  imperilled  the  lives  of  the  mis- 
sionarios  and  the  Christians;  and  at  times  the  only  remedy 


C 


,">' 


THE   CHURCir  m   AMKRICA. 


was  boldly  to  brave  the  wivith  of  the  Indians  and  d 
the  casks  before  them. 


33i) 

estroy 


A  see  was  at  last  established  at  Quebec  in  1674,  and 
Bishop  Laval  proceeded  io  organize  jiarishes  in  his  vast 
diocese,  which  soon  embraced  the  whole  valley  of  the  St 
Lawrence  and  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  great  lakes.  He 
founded  a  seminary  at  Quebec,  encouraged  the  missions, 
and  labored  to  strengthen  the  piety  of  his  flock.  The 
l)eople  of  Canada  are  to  this  day  one  of  the  most  'fervent 
(catholic  communities  in'  the  world. 

England  had  long  menaced  Canada  by  fleets  from  Eu- 
rope and  by  expeditions  from  her  An.oricau  colonies,  stimu- 
lated especially  by  a  haired  of  Catholicity.     The  French 
rei)elled  them  for  many  years,  and  erected  the  Church  of 
Our  Lady  of  Victories  at  Quebec  to  thank  Cod  for  the  vic- 
tory which  on  two  occasions  he  granted    to  (heir   arms 
Hut  at   last,   in    17G3,  England  wrested  the  colony  from 
Prance.     This  seemed   a  death-blow  to    CatJiolicity;    but 
what  seemed  so  to  the  eyes  of  men  was,  in  the  designs  of 
Providence,  the  salvation  of  the  Church  in  Cunada.     It 
was   the  moment  when    the  war  on  religion   in    France 
gained  its  first  triumph  in  ol^aining  (lie  suppression  of  the 
.Jesuits,  and  was  preparing  the  overthrow  of  all  religious 
institutions.     Ry  being  removed  from  this  infidel  influence 
reserved  the  faith.     The  English  government  had 

now  maintained  Cath- 


P 


been  hostile  to  the  Church,  but  it _^^ 

i)licity  in  Canada,  and,  beyond  i)etty  i)ersecutions  ,ind  .. 
Plim  for  the  extinction  of  the  Jesuits  and  Recollects,  left 
■  oil  free.     The  bishops,  devoted  to  their  flocks,  labored 
|>ply  them  with  good  priests.     Tiie  Catholic  iionula- 


relig 
to  sii 
tion 
have  I 
Red  R 


increased  rapidly,  and  in  .the  i)resent  cent 


)een 


JK))) 

ury  new  sees 


iver 


established  at  Montreal.  Jlalifax.  Kingston,  and 


('anada  now 


bisl 


contains  four  archbishops,   twentv-tl 


ireo 


'opa.  the  great  Laval  University,  two  great  theiilogical 


-t«nntnTnw.wrnmrmgi<HTHWde1^"o7T»^^^  and  has 

schools  where  the  young  nre  trained  in  (heir  religion. 


a 


m-- 


CHAPTKR  IV. 


TIIK   CHUUCII    IX    AMEIirOA. 


337 


IllinoiHl*  and  tlioy  Woro  actually  loveliod  to  the  rgvhund 
although  the  pi-oviMce  had  Ix-on  cccIcmI  to  Kngland  uiid  the 
-trench  had  no  jui-i«dictioii  wiiatcver. 

The  Ameiicai.  Kcvoliition  cut  ofT  the  Catholics  on  tjie 
MisHi,s8ii)i)i  and  the  hikes  fn.ni  (lie  hi.shoj,  at  Quebec;  most 
of,tho  Jesuit  Fathers  had  dird,  ho  Ihat  Avhen  the  spiritual 
du'ection  of  that  distant  i)art  of  the  repidjlic  devolved  on 
the- newly  appoint,ed  JJishop  <.f  Baltimore  it  was  almost 
destitute  of  cler-y;  many  of  tin;  while  settJers  had  crossed 
the  Mississippi  to  live  under  .Spanish  rule  in  Missouri  or 
Louisiana,  while  those  who  rcniaiued  and  the  Indian  tribes 
were  fast  losing  all  religious  ideas. 

Dr.  Carroll,  yioldmg|to  the  will  of  his  brethren,  pro- 
cceded  to  EnglaiJ«  received  episcopal  consecration 
at  the  hands  of  ^PPnedicline  bishop,  the  Right  Kcv 
Charles  Walmesley.  Vicar  Aj)ostolicof  the  London  District. 
The  ceremony  took  place  ou  the  loth  dav  of  August,  1790 
m  the  chapel  of  Lulworth  Castle,  the  seat  of  his'friend 
Thomas  Weld. 

Resisting  the  invilalions  of  many  warm'  friends  to  visif^ 
them,  he  embarked  at  (Jravesond  in  October,  and  arrivinrr 
at  Baltimore,  after  arough  and  unpleasant  voyago,  on  the 
7tiiof  December,  took  possession  of  his  seeamrcommenced 
hi8  arduous  duties. 

During  his  stay  in  England  he  saw  the  storm  about  to 
burst  which  had  b.-en    gathering  for  years  over  Catholic 
Europe.      Many  of  t he  clergy  of  France  were  already  seek- 
ing refuge  in  England,  and  here  the  now  bishop  saw  aid 
Oxtcnded  to  him  by  the   hand  of  Provi.|e1icc.     The  Rev 
Mr.  Nagot,  one  of  the  diroctors  of  the  Seminary  of  St 
8ul|)ice.   entering  into   Bishop  Carroll's  views,  agreed    to 
found  a  theological  svminary  in  Baltimore  in  ordeHo  train 
up  yonng  men  for  the  prn^sthood.     Other  exiled   priests 
learned  of  the  wants  of  the  vast  American  mission,  and  took 
heart  at  the  prospect  of  being  al)lo  to  do  Ood's  work  there 
^^^JIU  ymf  U  Um  fon«fci-ntitm  nt^tyg  ItrsT  t)iBrio-p  wm  " 


;     i 


338 


CHRIST   IN   Ills   CHURCH. 


i 


marked,  too,  by.  the  publication  of  an  edition  of  the  Catho- 
lic translation  of  Ihe  Bible  by  Bishop  Challoner,  whichnvaa 
issued  in  a  quarto  v,(|Kmeby  Matthew  Carey  at  Pliiladel- 
phia,  where  several  Catholic  prayer-books  and  other  works 
nad  already  ajjpeared. 

Bishop  Carroll  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  Geoi^etown 
College  enter  on  a  career  of  prosperity,  and  give" earnest  of 
sending  forth  men  to  rise  to  eminence  in  all  walks  of  life 
Besides  a  seminary  for  the  clergy,  he  also  saw  the  troubles 
m  Europe  enrich  his  diocese  wfth  the  first  oommunitv  of 
rehgious  women;  a  colony  of  Carmelite  nnns,  English  and 
AmenciUf  by  birth,  came  from  Antwer])  in  1 790,  and  founded 
a  convent  at  Port  Tobacco. 

Another  grea^t  step  was  to.  organize  his  diocese  as  the 
^  soyere.gn  Pontiff  desired,  by  convening  a  diocesan  synod 
and  adopting  silch  regulations,  as  the  experiencp  of  the 
older  missionaries  and  the  great  ecclesiastical  learning  of 
some  of  the  more  recent  accessions  should  siMrirest      On 
*  the  27th  of  October,  -1791,  hc^ssued  his  letters  Lv'oki«g 
the  synod.at  his  residence  in  Baltimor«^on  the  seventh  of 
the  ensuing  month.'   This  assembly  numbered  his  vicar- 
ginerals,  the  Very  Rev.  Jariu^s  Pellentz,  James  Fmm bach 
^Kobert  Molyneux,  Fi'ancis  A.   Fleming,  O.S.D  •  the  Sul' 
pitians  Nagot  and  Tessier  ;  Lavau,  a  Canon  of  Tours  •  the 
•Rev.   John  Thayer,  an  American  'minister,  converted   at 
Rome  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  ft.  Benedict  Labro   who 
hiKl  been  ordained  and  returned  to  labor  in  his-uative  land  • 
Rev.  Leonard  Neale  ;  Rev.  Lawrence  Uraessel,  who  was  to' 
die  a  victim  of  his  zeal  when  bishop-elect;  and  ten  other 
priests  :  the'little  assembly  including  Americans,  French- 
men, Belgians,  Hollanders,  Germans,  and  English.     After 
moving  in  procession  to  the  cathodral  of  St.  Peter  with 
tho.r  bisho,).  the  synod  convened,  and  adopted  regulations 
^hich  m  their  wisdom  excited  the  admiration  olf  eminent  ■ 
clergymen  in  later  days,  and  were  formally  adopted  in  the 
first  provincial  Council  of  Baltimore  of  1829 


,,,.,^, 


CHURCH    IX   AMKUICA. 


339. 


•The  Church  in  tlie  lie])iil)lic  w, 
work.-  Alreiuly  the  old  i)rojii(lice  was  be 
head.      Dr.  Carroll  had  been  compelled  t( 
ions  publication  of  Wharton,  an  apostate,  and  invicl 
clesiu  periodicals— as  he  always  did  witl 


lis. now  organized  for  its 

'ginning  to  rear  ks 

en  Compelled  to  answer  the  insid- 


ious ilrti- 
1  remarkable  skill. 


^  clearness,  and  sound  reason.  In  Boston  the  liev.  Mr. 
Thayer  found  it  more  than  once  necessary  to  enter  tiie 
hsts  in  defence  of  Catholic  truth  ;,  and  in  Philadeli)hia,  ' 
Father  Fleming,  in  his- ".Calumnies  of  Verus,"  crnshed 
an  oi)ponent  who  outraged  truth  in  his  attacks  on  Catho- 
licity. 

'     In  a  few  years  Bishop  Car^-oll  found  the  care  of  l,ii,s 
vast  diocese  beyond  his  ability,  and  sought  a  coadjutor. 

_    The  Rev.   lAIr.  (iraessel,  first  named,  died  of  yellow-fever, 

and  then  the  Rev.  Leonaixl  Noale  created  Bishop  of  Gor- 

>  tyna,  was   appointed.      Meanwhile  Kentucky,   a  growing  ' 

Sti^te,  liud  received  several  priests*,  othei's  were  sent  to  Vin- 

cejines  and  the  West ;  Matignon  and  Cheverns  were  estab- 

'    hshing  the  Church  in  iN-ow  England  ;  and.^rom  thelndums 
m  Maine  to  the  scattered  Catholics  in  the  Carolina.'i^And  / 
Ceorgia,  the  faithful evefvwhere  found  oiipo.rtunity;at  jcast 
at  intervals,  to  attend  Drvine   worship  and  apprfmehthe 
Sacraments.    In  theScmth-west  tlw  ne^vly  appointed-Bishop  - 
of  Louisiana  and  the  Floridas  sent  a  priest  to  Natchez  to  '• 
minister  till  the  Bisliop  of  Baltimore  conhl  give  a  pastor. 
.        The  rapid  iHorease  of  the  Chnrch  in  all  Vi'-t-^  of  t-he 
Republic  induced  Bishop  Carroll  to  solicit  adivision  of  his 
\'^ast  diocese!tn<l  the  establishment  of^new  sbes.     Pius  VTI 
on  the  8th  of  Apt).  1808,  made  Baltimore  an  Hivhiepis-' 
e(>j)al  See,  aud  erected  bishoprics  at   Boston,  New   Y-.tk. 
Philadelphia,  and    Baixlstown.    To  the^  lust  of   the^jj)  was 
appointed  the  holy  French  priest  Benedict  Josej)!!  hi^r^t  ; 

.  the  Rev.  John  Cheverus,  another  of  the  exiled,  clergy,  be- 
came Bishop  of  Boston  ;  the  Uw.  Michael  Egan,  a  i^'alous 
Franciscan,  who  had  been  f(.r  many  years  on  the  mission 

--iiiPmiimylvauhi,--wa»  ^t^^ptmtfedr  4tt  thrr  sarof  Phfhitielphiur=^ 


v 


34. 


CHRIST   IN-   Hlft-OHIJRCH. 


and  for  New  York  tlio  sovert'i.in^  Pontiflf.  selected  Father 
Ricluird  Luke  Conojuieu,  O.S.D.,  wlio  l.ud  shown'  greut 
ability  as  agent  of  the  Irish  bishops  at  Itome.  He  was 
conseerateci  there  and  f;iet  out  for  Anierrca,  but  he  never 
-reached  his  diocese,  dying  suddenly  at  Nai)les,\vhere  ho 
was  detained  by  the  French: 

This  divi^n  relieved  gready  the  venerable   Carroll, 
who  beheld  religion  progressing  i-apidly..  Orders  wea^  si)ring-- 
ing  up  to  meet  >the  wants  of  Catholics.     JMiss  Teresa  Lulor 
.  founded  a  monastery'of  Visitation  Nuns;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Seton,  aconvert  of  oneof  the  best  New  Ynik  familifes,  Estab- 
lished a  community  of  Sistersof  Charity  based  on  those  of 
St.  Vmce.it  do  Paul  in  France  ;  Poor  Clares  and  Ursulincs 
came  over  from  Europe;  the  Dominican  Fathers  revived 
their  Order  in  Kentucky;  monks  of  La  Tiappe  established 
a  monastery  of  their  severe  rule  in  the  West ;  the  Rev, 
John  Du  Bois,  subsequently iiishoj)  of  New  York,  laid  the 
foundation  of  Mount  St.  Mary's  College  at  'l!rnmitsbui-g, 
Maryland,  which  has  continued  to  combine  a  theological 
seminary  and  a  college,  and  has  bestowed  on   America 
some  of  its  most  zealous  priests  and  most  educated  and 
devotgd  laity.  .     . 

It  had  been  the  desire  of  the  venerable  Archbisho]>  to 
hold  a  Provincial  Council;  but  as  there  were  obstacles 
which  prevented  it,  several  regulations  for  some  impor- 
tont  points  of  discipline  were  adopted  by  him  and  his 
suffragans  in  1810.  One 'of  these  earlv  rules  formally 
excluded  from  the  sacraments  any  Cathoiic  who  joined  a 
lodge  of  Freemasons. 

The  ])urch!ise  of  Louisiana  by  (he  United  Slates  added 
new  cares  to  tlienged  Aichbishop.  That  province,  settled 
by  the  French,  had  been  subject  to  the  Bishops  of  Quebec 
but,  having  been  ceded  to  Spain  in  1703,  was,  a  few  years 
later,  phu3ed  under  the'control  of  the  Bishop  of  Santia-o 
de  Cub:.;  and  an  auxiliary  bishop  of  (hat  diocese,  a  |)io'us 
Capuchin  Father,  who,  already  residin^^  in  Florjd.i.  sni)crin 


.  i 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


341 


tended  the  uffuirs  of  tliut  colony,  proceeded  to  New  Orleans 
and  for  several  years  labored  to  revive  religion  in  Louisiana. 
He  vLsited  the  parishes,  administered  Confirmadon,  and 
restored  religious  discipline.  He  also  introduced  some 
new  clergymen  to  aid  the  few  Capuchins  on  whom,  for 
severhl  years,  the  pastoral  duties  had  devolved.     • 

In  1793  the  Holy  8ee,  at  the  desire  of  the  Spanish  king, 
established  the  Bisho])ricof  Louisiana  ami  the  twoFloridas/ 
and  ai)i)t)inted  as  first  bisho])  the  Kight  Kev.  Luis  de  Pcflalver 
y  Cardenas,  a  native  of  Havana,  a  man  of  zeal  and  learning 
and  unbounded  charity.  '  The  Si)anish  government  aided 
the  new  Bishoj)  liberally;  but  religion  had  declined  and  he 
was  unable  to  effect  all  his  zeal  desived.  .  In  1802  he  was 
transferred  to.  the  Archicpi^c()i)al  See  of  Cuatenuila.  A 
•  second  bishop  was  nominated  kit  never  ^consecrated;  and 
Spain,  amid  the  troubles  in  Europe,  agreed  to  cede  back 
the  province  of  Louisiana  to  France  in  consideration  of 
the  elevatioti  of  the  Duke  of  Parma  to  the  new  throne  of 
Etruria.  Before  Louisiana- actually  chalfged  its  flag,  the 
United  States  induced  the  Emperor  Napoleon  to  cede  it  to 
the  United  States  in  1803;  and  the  revolutionary  fh.g  of 
France  was  raised  only  to  be  almost  instantly  lowered. 

Most  of  the  Spanish  i)riests,  and  the  Spanish  nunVbe- 
loifging  to  the  Ursidine  convent  founded  in  1720  by  Mother 
MarydeTranchepain,  left  the  colony;  the  \'ieiir-General,  on 
whom  theadmini-stration  devolved  died,  the  next  year;  and 
evcrytliing  fell  into  confusion.  In  1805  the  Holy  See 
invested  Bishop  Carroll  with  the  administration  of  the 
Diocese  of  Louisiana.  He  appointed  the  Rev.  Jolin  B.  .- 
Olivier  his  Vicar-General,  but  it  was  soon  found  tliat  a 
resident  bishop  could  alone  remedy  the  disorders.  Li 
1812,  by  virtue  of  a  brief  of  Pope  Pi^us  VII.,  Archbishop 
Carroll  appointed  Kev.  William  Dubourg  Administrator 
Apostolic,  hut  even  his  authority  was  not  recognized.  At 
last,  in  September,  1815,  Dr.  Dub(ujrg  was  consecrated  at 
Eojnfi  aaBiska^i^LauijO^ot^  ^^4  Arebt^t#Imp  OafroH-tnre— 


. 


/^ 


342 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHI 

i 


relieved  of  the'  hciiyy  responsibility,  ^n  after,  on  the  3d 
of  December,  118^5,  the  venerable  patriarch  of  the  Church 
in  the  United  States  expired  at  tiie  age  of  80,  having  by 
.his  mildness,  zeal,  and  lirmness  won  the  esteem  of  meu  of 
all  opinions,  and  effected  the  great  work  of  organizing 
tills  poiytionof  Christ's  fold.  He  had  wisely  guided  its 
policy  so  as  to  insure  the  complete  adof)tion  of  the  canonL- 
cal  system  elsewhere  in  use,  without  exciting  prejudice 
witho4  the  fold,  or  alienating  from  the  faith  tlipse  who 
had  unhappily  caught  too  much  of  the  uucatholic  ideas 
amid  which  they  lived. 


(  / 


.  »^ 


CHAPTER  V, 

The  Church  in  New  Englnud— Trial  of  Rev.  Mr.  Chevenis— Rev. 
'  Joliu  Thayer— The  Progress  of  the  Church— New  York— Bishop 
Connolly  uud  Trustee  Troubles— iirs,  Setou  atid  the  Sisters 
of  Cliarity— Bishop  Egan  of  Philaclelphia— Bishop  Couwell  and 
the  Hogau  Schism— Catholicity  in  Western  Pcnusylvauiu— New 
Jersey— Bishop  Flaget  and  the  Cliurch  in  Kentucky- The 
Dominicans  in  Ohio— Devotion  of  Priests  and  Sisters  duriuc 
tlie  Cholera.  ' 

/The  Church  in  the  otiier  pirts  S  the  Uuited  States 
had  gi-own  even  more  rapidly.     The  wars  which  desolated 
Europe  made  many  seek  a  home  in  America  in  spite  of 
tlie  difficulty  of  crossing  tlie 
ocean;   and  after  the  fall  of 
Napoleon    this    emigration 
went  steadily  on  till,  in  later 
y(^ars,  more  tlian  a  quarter  of 
a  million  of  inhabitants  were 
added  to  the  country  annu- 
ally, a  large  proi)oi-tion  be- 
ing Catholics.    Only  a  small 
part   of    these'  immigrants 
reached  the  Southei-n  States, 
wliere  the  existence  of  slave 
labor  offd-ed  little  opportuh- 
ity  for  advantageous  settle- 

rnent.      TTonce  the  growth  of      .         Ri.ht,  Rev.  John  Cheveru. 

tatlK,l,city  was  the  more  remarkable  in  the   North  and 
West. 

The  New  England  States  wore  all  embrnrrd  in  the  Di- 
ocese of  Boston,  founded  in  1808.     Tlie  first  bishop   John 
-  ;hoverus,^  afterwards   Archbishop  of  Bordeaux  and  Car- 
'- nal^  was*  nmn  of  Iwtrotn^rptuly,  and  srich  wmmng 


:il 


344 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH 


<>" 


sweetness  that  he  seemed  to  draw  all  to  him.     His  influ- 
ence and  that  of  his  early  associate,  the  Kev.  Mr.  Matignon, 
were  all  the  more  needed  as  the  hrst  priests  at  Boston  had 
not  been  men  to  inspire  con^dence  in  Catholic  or  Protes- 
tant, 01-  to  advance  the  cau^e  of  religion;  and  the  convert 
Kev.  John  Thayer,  by  indit-creet  zeal,  had  excited  lively  op- 
position.     Dr.  Cheverus  extended  his  labors  over  all  the 
iVcw  England  States,  from  Connecticut  to  the  Indians  and 
scattered  Catholics  in  Maine,  everywhere  form i ng  congre- 
^  gations,  exciting  zeal  to  erect  churches  and  prepare  to  snp- 
•  port  a  resident  clergyman.      He  did  not  at  first  escape  the 
old  anti-Catholic  ojjposition.    In  Maine  he  was  arrested  for 
marrying  a  couple  without  being  the  resident  pastor^  and 
he  was  actually  i)laccd  in  the  dock  to  be  tried  with  drunk- 
ards, thieves,  and  evil-doers.      It  was  with  no  little  diffi- 
culty that  he  escaped   imprisonment,  and  the  bigotry  of 
thojudges  was  sati.<fied  with  im])osing  a  heavy  fine. 

Vm  Eev.  Mr.  Thiiyer,  though  personally  unsuccessful 
on  the  mission  in  his  native  land,  closed  a  piousand  devoted 
life  in  Catholic  Ireland,  possessed  through  life  with  one 
idea — that  of  establishing  a  convent  of  religious  women  in 
Boston.  For  this  he  collected  means,  which  he  left  at  his 
death;  and  he  so  imbued  with  his  spirit  three  ladies  of  a 
pious  family,  that  they  came  to  America  to  carry  out  his 
plan.  The  Ursuline  Convent  was  founded  in  1M8,  and, 
having  removed  so«n  after  to  Charlestown,  became  m  a 
few  years  a  most  successful  academy. 

MeauAvhile  churches  were  erected  in  South  Boston. 
Salem,  Xew  Bedford;  at  Damariscotta  and  Whitcfield  in 
Maine;  and  in  New  Hampshire  a  little  Catholic  community 
grew  up  as  by  miracle  at  Claremont.  There  a  Protestant 
clergyman.  Rev.  Virgil  H.  Barber,  listening  to  the  call  of  " 
•  divine  grace  and  not  closing  his  eyes  or  heart  to  evidence, 
embraced  the  faith  and  devoted  himself  to  extend  it.  His 
wife  and  daughters  beciime  members  of  religious  communi- 
ties.    He  himself  became  a  priest  in  the  Society  of  Jesus, 


i 


TH](^  CHURCH   IN   AMEEICA. 


345 


and  his  son,  growing  up,  followed  his  example;  and  his  aged 
father,  also  a*  minister,  became  a  humble  lay  brother. 
Other  members  of  this  remarkable  family  entered  tlie  fold, 
and  a  nephew  in  time  became  the  first  Bishoi)  of  Hartford. 
In  Connecticut  the  tyranny  of  tlie  Congregational 
system  had  di'iven  many  to  return  to  the  :5^piscoi)al  Church 
and  establislied  .  that  form  in  the  colony.  These  men 
were  earnest,  and  had  sacrificed  too  much  to  bo  influenced 
by  temporal  motives.  They  formed  a  school  of  religious 
thought  which,  in  time,  led  many  into  the  logical  course  of 
accepting  Catholic  truth.        .    ' 

In  1828  Rhode  Island  beheld  its  first  church  dedicated 
to  the  living  God,  and  two  years  later,  Hartford,  where 
Catholicity  had  been  struggling  along,  found  enough  of 
her  children  to  open  her  first  church. 

When  the  American  missionary,  Eov.  Benedict  J. 
Fenwick,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  became  Bishop  of  Boston 
in  1825,  the  i)rospects  of  the  Church  in  that  stronghold  of 
Protestantism  were  highly  favorable. 

New  York  had  been  less  hai)py.  Its  first  bishop  never 
lived  to  reach  his  diocese,  and  the  zeal  of  Fathers  Fenwick 
and  Kolilmann  had  been  unable  to  do  what  seems  a  gift  of 
the  episcopate.  A  Jesuit  college,  an  Ursuline  convent,  a 
Trapi)ist  monastery,  a  nucleus  of  holy  and  vivifying  influ- 
ence, were  established;  but  they  all  ceased  before  a  bishop 
came  to  encourage  tiiem.  When  the  Right  Rev.  John 
Connolly,  who  hud  displayed  learning,  ability,  and  wonder- 
ful energy  in  the  management  of  affairs  at  Rome,  came  to 
the  See  m  1816,  he  found  thirteen  thousand  Catholics  in 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,  with  three  churches— two  in  his 
episcopal  city,  and  one  in  Albany;  but  the  clergy  consisted 
of  a  single  secular  priest,  aided  for  a  time  by  tiiree  Jesuit 
Fathers,  who  Avere  soon  withdrawn.  Worst  of  all,  there 
had  arisen  a  spirit  of  contention.  While  the  simple- 
minded  Catholics  of  both  sexes  wished  to  ])racti-e  their 
religion,  some  who  had  risen  in  the  world  and  hud  booomn 


346 


CHRIST   IN   1118   ClIUKCH. 


estranged  from  the  faith  and  usages  of  tlie  Church,  wished 
to  modify  the  wliole  government  of  ecclesiastical  affairs  in 
Amerii^a.  They  elected  men  of  their  own  stamp  trustees 
in  the  churches,  and  these  claimed  the  rigiit  of  appointing 
and  i-emoving  the  clergy  luid  even  of  the  bishop. 

Bishop  Connolly  struggled  on  as  well  as  he  could  against 
these  adverse  circumstances.     He  obtained  several  i)riests 
and  introduced   Sisters  of  Charity  to  direct  an  orphan 


Mother  Seton. 

asylum;  and  made  a  visitation  of  his  diocese,  encouraot^d 
the  erection  of  churches  at  Utica  and  Rochester,  and  sent 
a  priest  to  Brooklyn  to  form  a  congregation  there.  With 
two  of  his  small  number  of  clergy  lie  was  carried  off  in  18?5 
An  event  important  to  the  whole  Church  m  the  country 
was  the  reception  at  St.  Peter's,  New  York,  of  Mrs.  Eli.a 
A.  Seton,  widow  of  a  prominent  merchant  of  New  York 
Her  husband,  meeting  reverses  m  bu-^mess  and  fail  in cr  in 
health,^  went  with  his  family  to  Italy,  hoping  to  regain  \m 


jBsasBmmms^m 


^s^st^mmammaam 


■■■^■" 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


347 


W: 


do   lier  prO- 

Her  step 

r  friends, 

'ortunately 

^  this  oppor- 


strength  in  a  more  favorable  climate,  but  he  died  there; 
and  Mrs.  Scton,  left  alone  in  her  distress,  sought  consolation 
in  religion.  The  Catholic  Church  seemed  to  her  so  full  of 
comfort  and  help,  and  its  doctrines,  as  explained  to  her  by  a 
kind  friend,  seemed  all  that  reason  could  ask;  but  she  did 
not  act  hastily:  she  studied  and  i)raycd;'  and  returning  to 
New  York,  submitted  all  her  doubts  to  the  Protestant 
bishop  Hobart,  but  could  not  be  satisfied.  God  gave"  her 
light;  and  she,  after  full  exaniinatij 
fession  of  faith  on  the  14th  of  Mai  ' 
brought  many  ti-ials.     She  tvas  abau 

,  J^nd  opened  a  school  to  sup})ort  her 
Hew  York  was  not  in  a  i)osition  to  ,pr 
tuliit^,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dubourg  urged  iier  to  go  to 
Baltinloro.  She  acted  on  his  advice,  but  her  desire  was  to 
form  a  r^igious  community  and  devote  her  life  to  the 
instruction  \of  the  ignorant  and  the  care  of  the  sick. 
Bishop  Carroll  deemed  her  vocation  a  real  one  and  encour- 
aged her  i)rojek.  Mr.  Samuel  Cooper,  a  Virginia  gentle- 
man, about  this  time  embraced  the  faith,  and  wished  to 
devote  his  fortune  to  good  works  and  enter  tlie  priesthood. 
With  this -means  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Bishop,  land 
was  purchased  at  Emmitsburg,  Maryland,  and  some  build- 
ings erected.  Meanwhile  Mrs.  Seton  had  been  joined  by 
four  other  ladies,  and  they  took  the  habit  of  Sisters 
Charity  on  the  1st  of  January,  1809,  under  the  direction 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Dubourg.  Finding  it  impossible  to  obtain 
the  rules  of  the  Order  in  France,  or  Sisters  from  any  com- 
munity there,  to  form  them  to  the  life  followed  m  Europe, 
ruks  were  drawn  up  suited  to  the  coi\nti-y,  and  a  dl-ess 
that,  without  being  conspicuous,   would  mark    them  as 

•  women  who  had  renounced  all  worldly  ideas. 

'  God  blessed  the  work.  Mother  Seton  I'lTied  ifo  see  her 
community  number  fifty  Sisters,  laboring  at  Emmitsburg, 
Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  other  cities,  caring  for 
orphans,  and   saving  Catholic   girls  from  perversion,   hy 


:f. 


348 


(  IIKIST   IX    iiift   CUIUKCII. 


instructing  tliom  in  all  i.ranchos  without  danger  to  their 
fuith,   which  was  solidly   iuii)lanted.      She  died  in  18^1 
having  the  consolation  <,r  seeing  one  of  her  daughters  in 
her  community  and  her  s(iii  a  fervent  Catholic. 

The  communKy  .spread*  rapidlv,  and  colonies  werb  sent 
to  all , parts  of  the  Atlantic  States.     After  an  existence  of 
nearly  iuilf  a  century  the  Sisters  a(l()])ted   the  Freiich  rule 
and  •habit,  and  placed    thdmselve^  undef  the  direction  of 
the  Priests  of  the  Mission,  or  Lttzarists,  a  comniunitv  which, 
like  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  had  been  founded  by  *St    Vin- 
cent  de    Paul.     This   made   some  modificatJon    in    their 
work.     The  Sisters  were  recallea  from  New  York,  but   by 
permission  of  the  Holy  See,  were.i)ermitted  there  to  retain 
their  old   dress -and  rule,  as   they  do  in  New  York,  New 
Jtn-sey,  and  the  dependent  missions.      Both  branches  have 
oxtended  wonderfully,  and  have.ilourishing  academies  for 
voung  Tadies,  }mn)chial  schools,  orphan  asvlun»s,  institu- 
tions tor  the  insane,-Iiospitalsfor  the  sick'iu  general  and 
f.)r  small-],ox  patients,  refuges  for  the  aged,  reform;itories 
for  erring  girl,<;  ,„  a  word,  institutions  for  all  the  works  of 


me  re  v. 


T 


heir  rec(frd  of  Sisters  who  have  4i4<  martyrs 
of  chanty  in  atteuding  the  sick  djring  seasons  of  dSTUTii, 


yellow-fever,  and  other  epIdenuc.J,-is   one  of' the  noblest 
1"  the  annals  of  the  countrv. 

The  Diocese  of  Philadvlphia  had  churches  6rgani/ed 
for  many  years,  bu^  the  more  receutlv  formed  comr,.e.ra- 
tions.  the  (Jerman  Church  and  St.  M^j-y's,  shf^v.d  an  in- 
fiubordmafe    spirit.       The    lirst    bislu.p,    t^^    R,.ht    ^e^ 


Michael  Kgan.  thpt^h  pious  and  devoted,  Znd  |„s  efforts 
'I'^v'^'t*''!^:  and  Cat holintr^^  instead  <.f  growing  vigorouslv 
■  'i"<i  a<'.,uiring  its  fuU^e vehement,  was  crippled  and  * 
M-eakened  by  men  of  thg^huuiesf  professions.  The  seccM.d 
bishop  the.  Hight  Rev.  Henry  I).  Conwell,  found  as  pastor 
at  St.  Mary  s.  then  the  pro-citHldral,  a  priest  placed  there 
during  the  vacancy  of  the  See,  wlio.  on  exan.ination, 
p.-oved  to  be  utterly  unlit.     The  atApt  to  remove  him 


f^ 


THE   CliriU'H    IN    AMEKICA. 


349 


guishcd  the  fiiith  in  the  liuart.s  of  niiiny.  The  priest  Ho- 
giui  apostatizc'd  unci  became  a  violent  eahiuuiiator  of  tlie 
Chureli;  and  there  are  at  this  dj^-  few  Catholics  descended 
from  those  who  upheld  him.  so  rapidly  does  the  sin  of 
pciwsm  lead  to  apostasy  and  to  utter  loss  of  faith. 

Amid  ull  these  trouhlea*  the  Sisters  of  (Jluirjty  bega^ 
their  good  work  in  the  ilif)cese;  and  the  Augustinian  Fn 
thers  weie  building  u])  a  church  in  which  the  true  spirit  of 
Catholicity  i)revailed,  as  it  did  in  the  missions  served  by 
the  Jesuit  Fathers.  In  the  western  jiart  of  the  State 
Catholics  began  to  settle  syon  after  the  peace,  'lliose  on 
the  Monongahela  apjiealed 
to  Dr.  Carroll  f(jr  [)riests 
soon  after  his  a])j)ointment 
as  Prefect.  Sev-eral  priests 
endeavored  to  gather  Cath- 
olic colonists.  The  Kev. 
Mr.  Browers  pui-chascd 
land 


Rt^^Rev.  Benedict  Joseph  Flaget,  D.Dl 


in  *  Westmoreland 
County  and,  founding  a 
church,  beqneathed  his 
])roperty  to  i t ;  and  the  great . 
Benedictine  Abbey  of. St. 
Vincent  now  fulfils  his 
])iona  wislu's.  The  Franf 
ciscan  Fat  [ler  Lonergan  also 
acquired  land,  and  endeavored  "to  draw  Catholics  to  it, 
proposing,  also,  |o  found  a  convent  of  Sisters  f(n-  their 
benefit.  Soon  after,  Prince  Demetrius  (Jallitzin,  one  of 
the  first  i)riests  ordained  by  Bishop  Carr<.ll,  founded  the 
Catholic  settlement  of  Lorelto,  and,  renmincing  his  bril- 
liant future  in  Europe,  Rpont  his  life  and  means  for  the 
good  of  his  flock  in  the  Allegbanies. 

In  the  neighboring  Stale  of  New  Jersey  the  faith  was 
also-  spreading;  the  iron  works  at  Maeo|)iii  and  Paterson 
Wiug  »Hfw>gg  tlH*  t4tt4tt^t  TTTttm?  nf  tTfTttoiirity. 


1     ■^ 


fl 


II 


350 


'm 


"^ 


CIIHIST   IN   JjIS    CHI  KriT. 


sl     f  n  \     ^^'  ^'Pointment  of  lii.hop  Flagoc  to  the 

new  field  all' was  to  be  clone.     Though  thcfh.t  to  en 
the  field  had  been  discouraged,  priests  like  Bad...  Da v  d 
Salmon   and  Aer.nckx  adapted  themselves  to  the^ou,    '; 
and  the,r  flock,  in.buing  thenrwith  the  true  fa^^         d 
:eiphne  of  the  Church.     Thev.si,ared^  the   hardsh^ "  ,n  d 
d^mgers  of  their  j.arishioners  ;    an4  fj  a  few  vears    am 
the  log  chapels/'two  relio-.ous  connnunities  of  wom^n'  the 


•        Father  Fenwick  visiting  early  Catholic  Sottlera. 
Sisters  Of  Loretto  and  Sisters  of  Chanty,  organized  in  the 
Rfate,  began  the.r  devoted   labors.    :A  ^.oUege  and  sebools 
-^qongave  the  rising  g,.|,eration  every  oppor.unitv  for  ae- 
<p..rnigasonndeduca,i..n.     The  D.uninican  Fal  hers  from 
n<'rnheim    ,n    hurope,  who  had  nua..  (o  America,  selth.! 
•n  Kentucky,  an.l  zealously  .nb.-nl  ,n,o  the  mission  work 
nHlu^nsmg.Stl.te.     The  Trapuists  also  made  an  attempt 
to  est4i,l.sh  themsolveH  in   the  .liooese  of  B,f4,op  FhJt 
•    *^;*J  ;'^'^^""^^^""-»  ''  f--'^  '"-N  <lu,„gh  they  ultimate!; 


^ 


tjip:  church  in  America. 


361 


Besides  the  State  of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Ohio,  Indi- 
ana, and  the  then  sparsely  settled  ^icyth-west  were  under 
the  care  of  Bishop  "Flaget;  and  that  saintly  man,  in  his  first 
visitation,  travelled  more  than  a-  thousand  miles  through 
what  was  then  a  wild  country.  In  this  vast  held  much 
was  to  he  done.  Tift  Dominicans,  led  by  Father  Edward 
Fenwick,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Cincinnati,  fisit(%  the 
scattered  Catholics  in  Ohio,  and  were  encouraged  by  their 
hearty  welcome.  They  planted  th$"  tirst  Catholic  Church 
for  whites  in  Perry  County,  Ohio;  and  a  coifvent  of  tiieir 
Order  soon  became  a  centre  of  religious  in8tiucti'.%  The 
old  churches  afVincennes,  Detroit,  Mackinac,  Green  Bay, 
and  Kaskaskia  began  to  echo  again  to  tiie  solemn  services 
of  the  Church,  and  thn)ugli(frit*  that  district  Catholifcs 
began  to  organize  congreg.ilions,  inspired  by  the  hope  of 
at  last  obtaining,  pastors.  i»  . 

WhtMi  it  became  evident  Unit  thoHferritory  north  and 
west  of  the  Ohio  was  increasing  rapidly  in  i)opulation,  with 
Catholics  scattering  far  and  wide.  liishyp  Flaget  urged  the 
establishment  of  a  new  see,  and  Kather' Fenwick  was  made 
Bishop  of  Cincinnati  in  IH-^l.  llow'the  Church  has  l)een 
built  uj)  may  be  seen  in  the  very  bohlness  of  this  step.  To 
be  ap[)()inte(l:  bishop  of  some  venernble  'see."  wiicre  there  is 
a  cathedral  rich  in  memories,  a  residence  wffere  a  long  line 
of  bi8hoi)s  had  i)resided,  churches,  untj  schools.  is(^e  thing, 
but  it  was  faKditferent  to  be  raised  to  (be  episeopiite  under 
conditions  like  those  of  the  first  bishop  arf  Cincinnati.  On 
reachijig  his  see.  Bishop  Fenwiclv  had  to  look  out:*for  a 
residen(!er  and,  having  hired  one,  be  sent  out  for  the 
8imj)le  food  that  was  to  be  his  first  meal  in  his  unfu|ajished 
house.  Cathedral,  convent,  college,  school,  were  all  dreams 
of  the  future.  Yet  all  the,><e  came  ;  and  in  IH:J1  the  (,\ifho- 
lie  Trlt'timph  was  founded,  to  be  a  vehicle  for  dilTu.'^'iiig 
Oatholi('  intelligence  among  the  faithful,  as  well  as  to  repel 
the  constant  attacks  made  on  the  trutli.  The  iK'xt  year 
tht)  tlrst  bishop  of  Ciitdnimtij  \vhile  makiii'^  u  vi.silHtjLon  ori 


r 


i 


I 


%  <^ 


352 


CHRIST   IN-  HIS   CHIIKGH, 


J> 


the  upper  lakes,  was  stricken  doAvn  by  cholera.  He  ral-" 
lied  fr^i  the  JjrBKattack,  and,  on  his  way  to  Cincinnati, 
gaveihe  last  bfessing  to,.tiie  veteran,  lie  v.  Gabriel  Jiichard 
whom  he  found ^on^hi;  death-bed.  He  l)imself  had  tiie 
hand  of.  death  upon  him,  and  soon  passed  away,  dying 
^     without  a  Catliolic  near  him,  at  Wooster,  Ohio.        " 

During  the  i)revalence  of  the  terrible  cholera  in  1833 
and  1834  the  Catholic  clergy-and  Sisters  devoted  themselves 
evei-ywhere  to  the  care  of  the  sick,  giving  several  martyrs 
to  he  f?Suse  of  charity.  Where  there  \vere  noFSisters,  as  at 
Detroit,  Catholic  ladies  took  on  themselves  the  care  of  the 
sick. 

Dr   Fenwick  was  succeeded  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  B 

I'urcell,  who  had  been  President-of  Moinit  St.  Mary's  Col- 

ege.      He  was  consecrate  Oct..  13,  1833,  and  occupied 

the  see  for  nearly  half  a  century,  contributing  by  learn- 

iiig,   zed,  and  sacrifices  to  the  wonderful   exten^iion  of 

.Catho hcty  in  the  West.  •   Ho  lived  to  see  two  other  sees 

erected  in  Ohio,  and  Cincinnati  become  the  metropolis  of 

a  province.     He  attended  ^^umerous.  Provincial  and  Plen- 

ary.Coiinc.ls  at  Balirmore;  held  J^rovincial  Councils  in  his 

own  city,  and  attended  a  General  Council  of  the  Cburch' 

He  was  early  called  to  defend  the  true  faith,  his  learninc^ 

m\  abd.ty  beit.g  displayed  in  a  famous  controversy  with 

Rev  Mr.  Camni)ell,  foun.ler  of  a  new  Presbyterian  sect. 

Under  h.s  imfT.Ise  the  Jesuits  opened  St.  Xavier  Coll,.ffe 

iU  Domnncans  extended ,  their  churches,  the  Priests  o€ 

the  Precious  Blood  began  to  hibor  among  the  Germans 

J.he  education  of  the  young  was  so  dear  to  him  that  he 

h=ul  aperies  of  sohoQi-books  prepared,  and  intn.dneed  the 

Brothers  of  Mary  to  a.d  the  Orders  already  laboring  in 


s*- 


■v*"^ 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

Establishment  o|  the  Sees  of  Charleston  and  Richmond— Religion  in 
Virginia— North  Carolina— Bishop  England  and  the  Church  iu 
tlie  Carolinas— Religion  in  Florida— Progress  in  Louisiana  and 
Missouri— i^Iiraculous 'Cure  of  Mrs.  Mattingly— First  Provincial 
Council. 

The  southern  p^rt  of  the  Republi{5  next  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  Holy  See.  Deeming  the  Diocese  of  Balti- 
more still  too  large,  Pius  VIII.  founded  tliQ  Sees  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  and  Riclimoii'd,  Va.,  in.  1820,  naming  4:q  fhe 
latter  the  Right  Rev.  Patrick  Kelly,  and  to  the  former  a 
great  prelate,  the  Right  Rev.  John  England,  a  man  of  emi- 
ueigj learning,  i)rety,  and  ability. 

Tiatholieity  was',  hot  in  a  prosperous  state  in  Virginia  ; 
the  old  jtcnal  laws  had  excluded  Catholics,  and  few  now 
seemed  inclined  to  settle  there.  The  adherents  of  the  ;m- 
cient  faith  were  sofewand  so  })(5of  that  thq  newly  apj)ointed 
bishop  opened_^a  school  in  Norfolk  to  support  himself. 
After  strngghng  for/ a  ypar,  he  was  transferred  to  Water- 
ford,  Ireland,'  and  ibv  many  years  the  diocese  was 
governed  by  the  ArcTibJ^hoj)  of  Baltimore,  the  increase  of 
the  faithfnl  nut  justifying  the  a})pointment  of  another 
bishoi).  ,  ^V>';  \  '     ';  ■ 

North  Carolina  had  a  priest  .3fon  after  *the  Revolution; 
hut  it  has  remained  to  this  day  the  Stii|p  most  im})ervious 
to  the  true  do(!trines  of  the-Gospel.  Softfek^C^ju-olwia  and 
Georgia,  also  in  the  Diooos-o  of  CharlesTOn,  gave  he4,l 
ho])es.  So  hostile  had  the  people  been  that  two  men,  d-' 
covered  to  be  "Irish  CathoHcs,  were  tarred,  feathered,  and 
banished  from  Soutli  Carolina  in  1  TTr).  Soon  after  the  elose 
of  t^ie  W'lr,  Charleston  anM  Augusta,  in  Georgia,  had  priests. 
Here,  too.  Jealousies  and  scAndaN  lefarded  the  progress  of 
-IgliiT'vUL imd  iTpdkd  many  £i-um-e.\:iminnig4U-<l<^triiie8. 


»!■ 


<Si 


'iis-'^s; 


% 


% 


354 


ciiRig»N  -HIS  ciiuRcir. 


o 


.^Bishop  England  found  only  t#%  priests  hiMs  large  diocese 
but^he  went  cheerf ally  to  work.     He  est  Jkhed  the  Sisters 
otOui  Lady  of>Mercy  at  Charleston  intyduced  the  llr- 
suhnes  frmn  Ireland,  to-provide|or  the  gi|tt  calls  n^  edu- 
•  '       '  -       '  3itmi  and  chi|-ity.    H^.^^ 

l^d  churches ttjiidingTir^^ 
:     ever  the  numbiap?t^'  Cathoji^' 
it;\u4,,k)  diffu^^ 
and  silence  error, 
lashed   i^e^  United  . 

a||S,J)ower    this 
km  the  forchiost 


^y*^.Xv^po\\s    press  "in 

•-N^vAnkrica;   'M  his  death  he 

>relfe 'twenty  zealous    i)riosts 

nimistei-ing     in     nearly    as 

many'ciiurches. 

Florida 'M'us   restored   to 
Spain  in  1783^  and  Catholics 
again  returned  to   it.    :Not 
T,.ij.     I  t.'  -'\^  ■       ^'^P'^i'sh    priests    alone,   but 

lush  also,   were  scftit  out  from  S,,am;  and  Ifhey  labored 

St.  Au^ti^^  Peusju3ola,Mol,ilc,  ancieVenNatchez,clu>med 
then  as  HI  Hon.la,  had  thus  their  priests.    .This  provinne 

f  the  See  of  i[j,vanu^,n  1787,  and  formed  part  of  the  new 
>   >-;^'   t.li    a   h.shop  .as   appointed    for   Louisiana   and 
''J'>n<Ju  ...  17^,     The  Righi  R.v.  I>.-,Cvnl  resided  for  some 
nyi  ^'-^''''''^  ^'^^^^^y  '^uperirtfemling  the  scat-  , 
M^d  took  ,n  the  two  large  province^.      When  Louisiana   " 
wascode<l  to  the  United  States,  Fh.riill  remained  a  Span- 
ish province  fU  18-^1,  oonnectecl  witgte  See  of  IlavLna.    - 
^  .Ihe  con«oeration  of  Hisl.op  I),^hl|  ,,  h,,,„,  j,,  joj^ 
vived   religion    in    Louisiana,     ^s  Administrator  hi« 


re 


\>, 


fr 


■> 


% 


^^:'^^^'% 


THE    rTTrRCTI    IX.AMERKJA. 


355 


i-ty  hud  been  (lelied;  and,  finding  it  useless  to  make 
rleans  his  residence,  the  city  of  !St.  Louis  enjoyed 
^antage  of  his  zeal,  and  Cathohcity  there  received 
■ulse  that  luis  never  been  lust.  lie  w  as  a  bishop  of 
singT^far  ability;  smd,  by  his  appeals  for  aid  in  France,  led 
'to  tliG|stablishmeiit  of  the  Association  for  the  Propagation 


^^||j^^i%iFaitli„  which  has  been  such  a  wonderful  succor  to 
'  ^e  Ciltholio  Missions  in  all  parts  of  tlie  world.  '   The  tirst 
''''*^-.8p^»^Gnts  in-  Missouri,  St.  Genevieve,  St.  Charles,  and 
^;SC<|ifnus,  foundecWrom  IToO  to  irG4,  were  attended  1^' 
'  the  Jesuits  from  llWnoi.s,  till  liev.  Mr.  Gibault  built  his  log 
,   chapel  nuSt,  Louis  in  ITTO.     liishop  Cyril  i)laced  Capuchins 
hei^,  ,and  Bishop  Perialver  did  ail  in  his  power  to  keep 
religion  alive  in  tjie  iieart.s  of  th;it  distant  portion  of  his 
flock  ;  but  it  was  in  no  vigorous  stai.e  when  Dr.  Dubouro- 
ai-rived.     lie   came   accompanied   by  Fatlier  de  Andreis, 
Father   Ro.sati,   and   otlior.  priests   of   the    Mission,   wlio 
founded  a  seminary  and  coHegD.at  the  Barrens,  which  have 
been  a  liivc  for  good  priests  and  intelligent  Catholic  lay- 
men.    A  band  of.young  men,  l)rought  over  from  Belgiuu} 
by  Hev.  Charles  Nerinckx,  and  who  liatl  entered  the  Jesuit 
novitiate  in  .Maryland,  next  came  to  Missouri  mider  Father  - 
Charles   F.    Van    Quickenborn.    and    foun.ded    houses   at 
Florissant;  St.  CJiarles,  and  St.  Louis;  a  noble  universitv 
soon  rising  at  the  last-named  city.     The   Ladles  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  opened,  in  this  diocese,  live  first  American 
house  of  their  admirable  Order  for  the  education  of  young 
ladies',  and   tlie   Sisterg  .oi   Loretfo  from   Kentucky,  and 
.Ursuhnea,  soon  joined  them. 

In    18-.U  Xew  OrU'ans  was  virtilldly  made  a  see,  and 
St.  Louis  anotlu^r,  while  the   IJight  UqV,,.Michriel   Portier 
was  stationed  at    Mobile,  with  jurisdiction  over  Alabama 
and    Florida.,    the    latter    ])r(1vin!"e    having   |t   last   been  - 
•»  acquired  by  the  United  SfiUes.,  '     ? 

Miracles  had    lieen    ivcorded    from    the  early  mission  " 


r 


III 


%: 


.5    [j 


356 


CHRIST   IN   HI»S    CilOKCH. 


only  in  limited  districts  or  by  a  few,  and  exercised  little 
general  influence,  '  -      - 

In  the  year  1824  a  pious  priest  of  the  princely  house 
of  Iloheulohe,  in  Germany,  labored  earnestly  to  ej^cite  tlie 
faithful  to  fervor  in  prayer,  jn-omising  to  offer  the  holy 
sacrifice 'for  Mie  intention  of  all  who  wished  to  unite  thciv 
prayers  to  his.  A  lady  of  Washington,  Mrs.  Mattingly, 
who  had  been  for  several  years  suffering  from  diseases 
which  physicians  failed  to  relieve,  wrote  to  the  Prince, 
and  by  his  advice  began  a  No  vena  in  honor  of  the  most 
holy  name  of  Jesus.,  On^the  last  day  she  received  holy 
communion  from  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Father  Dubuis- 
son,  S.  J.,  and  was  instantly  restored  to  complete  health, 
all  traces  of  the  disease  having  disappeared. 

The  fame  of  this  miracle  spread,  and  the  fact  was,  of 
coursio,. denied;  but  a  series  of  affidavits  from  physicians 
and  other  witnesses  was  published,  leaving  no  reasonable 
ground  for  doubt.  An  anonymous  writer,  however, 
attemi)ted  to  gainsfiy  it  and  break  down  the  testimony; 
but  Bishop  England,  in  a  publication  full  of  sound  and 
able  reasoning,  completely  silenced  aU  oi)position. 

This  miracle  of  prayer  tended  greatly  to  revive  faith 
in  nil  parts  of  the,  country,' and  the  enemies  of  the  Church 
had  helped  to  this  consoling  result. 

Catholicity  was  thus  s])reading  over  -the  country, 
swelled  by  emigration  from  a])road.  Her  ecclesiastical 
orgilnization  was  derived  froih  England,  France,  and 
Spain,  while  tlie  flocks  were  mainly  of  English,"  Irish, 
French,  or  Cerman  origin.  All  felt  the  necessity  of  uni- 
forni  discipline  and  action,  to  guide  the  clergy,  and  imbue 
the- faithful  with  genuine  piety  and  devotion.  It  was 
necessiiry.  too.  to  lulopt  measures  to  meet  the  bigotry  which 
was  reviving  against  the  Catholic  Church,  and  to  thwart 
the  insidious  attempts  which  were  made  to  tamjicr  with 
the  faitli  of  the  poor. 
.    About  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  cen- 


riiE  CHURCH  it^  America. 


857 


turj,  the  Catholic  agitation  in  England  and  Ireland  for 
a  relaxation  of  the  jyenal  laws,  and  a  general  emancipa- 
tion, evoked  a  bitter  warfare  against  the  Church,  and  the 
press  teemed  with  attacks  on  the  Church.  The  spirit 
spread  to  America,  and  a  spirit  of  hostility  began  to  show 
itself.  Catholic  newspapers  established  in  various  parts 
defended  the  doctrines,  ritual,  and  devotions  of  the 
Church,  Controversies,  oral  and  written,  became  common, 
and  the  whole  Catholic  body  felt  that  great  sacrifices  were 
necessary  to  preserve  l^lie  faith  dear  to  their  hearts,  and 
transmit  it  to  their  children. 

The  holding  of  a  Provincial  Council  had  been  proposed 
as  early  as   1810,  but  obstacles  intervened.     Archbishop 
Leonard  Neale  and  Archbishop  Ambrose  Marechal  had, 
while  extending  religion   in   the   Diocese   of   Baltimore, 
labored  to  secure  this  end;  but  it  was  not  till  1829  that 
the  Most  Rev.  James  Whitfield,  the  fourth  Archbishop, 
was  able,  with  the  sanction  of  the  Holy  Sep,  to  convoke  a 
provincial  Council,  to  which  he  invited  Bishop  Rosati  of 
St.  Louis,  then  Administrator  of  New  Orleans,  and  Bishop 
Portier  of  Mobile.     The  imposing  ceremonial  of  the  open- 
ing of  a  Provmcial  Council  was  witnessed  for  the  first 
time  at  thg  Cathedral  of  Baltimore  on  the  4th  of  Octo- 
ber,   1829,   when    the  Archbishop,   with   the  Bishops   of 
Bardstown,  Charleston,  Cincinnati,  Boston,  and  St.  Louis, 
and  the  Administrator  of  Philadelphia,  with  their  theolo- 
gians, and  the  heads  of  the  roligiou.s  Orders  in  the  country, 
met  before  the  altar  of  God  to  deliberate  for  the  welfare 
of  the  Church. 

The  decreea/pprovcd  by  the  Holy  See  were  a  great  en 
couragemqnt  tfo  priests  and  people.  They revived  discipline, 
struck  a  deatlh-blow  to  the  protensipns  of  trustees,  showed 
the  necea^y  m  Catlu^ schools,  periodicals,  and  books,  up- 
held the  sjin^tity^^^ptUiristian  miirriiige,  find  provided 
against  scnnda 

T^fie  Cii'holics  at  ih    ,  '  Mm  whole  country  were 


t 


*p 


V^ 


"^A 


368 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


estimated  at  about  half  a  million :,,. and  -  this  Council 
marked  their  coalescing  into  ^  onSj^^ar^^atty,  imbued 
witji  the  utmost  loyalty  to  th|fMl^^'3bnxio\is  to  pre- 
serve unity  in  the  bond  of  faifc^^d  discipline.  It  had  no 
heresies  to  condemn  originati^^  among  the  faithM  ;  there 
had  been  no  general  falling  away  from  the  ecclesiastical 
rules  or  precepts.  On  the  contrary^  the  faithf idgMMAl 
over  a  vak  continent,.^few  of  whom  had  evffwitnessed 
many  of  the  rites,  cerenionies,  and  practices  of  the  6hurch 
in  lands  which  she  1^:  Voulded  for  centuries— were  now' 
rapidly  and  eagerly  rMfing  the  old  Catholic  life  of  their 
ancestors,  and  showinfitho  inherent  vitality  of  their  faith. 


^%; 


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A 


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r 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Religion  in  Miclugan-The  See  of  Detroit-Bishop  Reze-Bishops 
■  Llr'Tr"'  l^ubuque-Early  History  o!-  the  Church  at 
Natcl^>z-ReHg,oa  m  Tenncssee-Anti-Catholic  Movements- 
cr^Uof  r  '  '  L,bels-The  Ursulino  Convent  Uestroyed-In- 
cr^SS.  of  German  Catl,olics-The  Kedemptorist^Coancils  at 
Baltimore-Missions  from  Quebec  and  St.  Louis  to  Oregon- 
^    Beginnmg  of  the  Church  in  Minnesota-Ra|,  of  Progress. 

WiTH^jf  the  ten  years  following  the  first  Council  of  Bal- 
timore, se^ral  new  sees  were  established  m  the  West  to 
meet  the  wants  of  the  increase  in  the  faithful.     Detroit  a 
town  where  Catholicity  had  flourished  since  the  vear  1700 
was  ma^an  episcopal  see  in'l833.     It  was  nearly  two  cen- 
^rT  Tm^''''  ^'"'^  "Missionaries  entered  the  limits  of  the 
htate^of  Mj^ngan  ;  foras  ^arly  as  1642  the  Jesuit  Fathers 
Jogues  ancT^^ymbJult   planted    the  cross  a^   Sault  Ste 
Mane  amonj^e  Chippewas.     In  1665  the  venerable  mis- 
sionary, Rene  Men^l^while  on  his  way  from  Lake  Superior 
to  visit  a  distant  ba4||>f  Hurons,  was  murdered  by  prowl- 
ing Indians.  ^  ^ 

The  first  church  at  Detroit  was  burned  m  1704.     Two 
years-  after  the  priest  stationed  there,  R  Benedict  Con- 
stantin  de  eiiasle,  was  killed  by  the  Miami  Indians  in  a 
sudden  attack  on  the  Ottawas.     A  succession  of  priests 
was  kept  up  till  1785.     When  the  district  devolved  on 
Bishop  Carroll  he  sent  priests  to  attend  Detroit  and  two 
other  churches;  but^religion  received  no  impulse  till  the 
arrival  of  the  energetic  and  able  Sulpitian,  Gabriel  Richard 
who,  in  1798,  took  tip  his  residence  there.     He  was  not 
only  a  learned  und  devoted  priest,  but  a  man  of  progress. 
He  established  the  first  j.rinting-press  in  Michigan,  and 
was  tiie  first  to  print  any  portion  of  the  Bible  in  the  West 
M^L  was  not,oa^^^4cad4^  o^iht^OtrthtrlitT^rirot-of^t^^ 


'    ! 


360 


CHRIST   1^   HIS   CHURCH. 


whole  community,  and  was  elected  the  Delegate  of  the 
Territory  to  Congress.  In  1805  St.  Anne's  Churcli,  Detroit, 
perished  in  a  conliagration,,but  was  once  more  rebuilt. 
Under  Bishop  Flaget,  of  Bardstown,  and  subsequently 
under  Bishop  Fenwick,  of  Cincinnati,  the  Indian  missions 
were  revived  at  Arbre  Crochc,  where' the  Indians  had  long 
solicited  a  priest.  Catholicity  spreiul,  too,  beyond  Lake 
Michigan;  the  veteran  priest  Badin,,  the  first  ordained  in 
the  United  States,  restored  the  old  mission  at  Green  Bay, 
which  soon  had  its  log  chapel.  In  1834  a  priest  tells  us 
that  he  had  visited  a  spot  called  Milwaukee,  where  h.e  found 
about  twenty  Catholics. 

Bishop  Fenwick  died  after  visiting  this  part  of  his 
diocese. 

When  the  See  of  Detroit  was  erected,  the  Very  Rev. 
Frederic  Ileze,  a  zealous  missionary  in  Michigan,  was 
chosen  bishop.  He  found  nine  churches  in  his  diocese, 
and  introduced  the  Redemi)torists  and  Poor  Clares.  Before 
the  close  of  the  period  we  here  include,  he  could  count 
jnore  than  twenty  churches. 

In  1834  Vincennes,  another  old  French  settlement,  re- 
ceived as  bishop  the  learned  and  pious  Right  Rev.  Simon 
Gabriel  Brute,  who  had  contributed  to  found  Mount  St. 
Mary's  and  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  The  post  had  been 
served  from  early  in  the  last  century  to  the  year  1789  by 
Canadian  priests.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Flaget  revived  the  faith 
in  1792,  and  subsequently  as  bishop  cared  for  the  old  flocks. 
Bisho})  Brute  appealed  to  the  charity  of  the  Old  World  and 
gained  zealous  priests.  Alive  to  the  importance  of  edu- 
cation, he  also  introduced  the  Sisters  of  Charity. 

Three  years  later  Dubuque,  the  capital  of  Iowa,  a  district 
rapidly  settling,  was  made  an  episcopal  see.  The  bishop 
had  no  priests,  churches,  or  institutions,  but  these  soon 
came  under  his  zealous  action.  Within  two  years  after 
the  building  of  the  first  log  hut  in  Iowa,  there  were  two 
Catholic  churches.     Natchez,  another  ancient  French  s^ 


,^. 


i' 


THJ]   CHURCH    IN   AMERICA. 


361 


tlement,  was  also  made  a  see  in  this  year.  Early  in  the 
last  century  it  had  an  Indian  mission  under  tlie  Kev.  Mr. 
St.  Cosme,  a  Canadian  priest  who  was  killed  by  i)rowlin<'- 
savages  on  the  Mississippi;  and  Itev.  Mr.  Foucault,  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  Yazoos,  met  the  same  fate.  The  Capuchins 
then  became  chaplains  of  this  French  post;  but  in  IIZI  the 
Natchez,  roused  to  fury  by  the  injustice  of  Chopart,  the 
commandant,  jjlotted  a  general  massacre  of  the  French. 
Th^Jesuit  Father  Poisson,  stopping  in  charity  to  minister 
to  the  French,  was  slaughtered  there,  and  Father  Souel 
was  killed  by  tlie  Yazoos  to  whom  he  had  been  preaching, 
and  a  third  missionary  escaped  almost  miraculously  from 
the  hands  of  the  infuriated  Indians. 

After  a  time  the  settlement  was  restored  and  was 
regularly  attended  to  the  fall  of  French  power.  In  1787 
the  Spanish  government  sent  Irish  priests  to  Natchez,  and 
a  church  was  erected  tliere  and  another  at  Cole's  Creek. 
When  this  part  was  fully  recognized  as  American  territory 
the  Spaniards  withdrew;  but  Bishop  Peflalver,  at  the  request 
of  Bishop  Carroll,  sent  priests  to  Natchez,  and  for  years 
the  Catholics  in  that  part  depended  on  New  Orleans  for 
spiritual  aid.  When  Natchez  was  erected  into  a  see  in 
1837,  all  trace  of  churches  and  of  the  French  and  Spanish 
labors  of  the  last  century  had  vanished  :  but,  though 
Bishop  Chanche  found  the  field  of  so  littlo.  promise,  he  zeal- 
ously bent  himself  to  the  work;  and  at  his  death,  evert  in 
that  State  of  Mississippi  where  littlo  of  tlie  -tide 'of  immi- 
gration reached,  left  eleven  churches  and  ten  priests  where 
he  had  found  none. 

Nashville,  estabhslied  as  an  ep^^^tTml  see  in  the  "same 
year,  has  seen  (vatholieity  grow  mIw^Iw  The  Dominican 
Father,  Richard  Pius  Miles,  on  liis^eeii&cration  repaired  to 
Nashville,  but  he  had  scarcely  secured  a  temporary  home  • 
in  a  boarding-hoiise  when  he  was  prostrated  by  a  dangerous 
fever,  and  might  have  died  unattended  had  not  Providence 
guided  a_4)r lest  to  his^bedside.     Yet  he  lived  to  see  tbir- 


«!%r 


'■//■ 


.  t 


S62 


CHRIST    IX    HIS    CHITRCII. 


I 


teen  priests,  fourteen  churched,  three  conyents,  with  acad- 
emies and  i)arish  schools. 

-  But  the   very   increase'  of   Catholics   in    the   country 
^envenonmd  the  liatrcd  agaiitst  them.     Brownlee,  Bedcher 
Morse,  !tnd  others,  by  u'lldest  appeals  to  prejudice,  aroused 
tlie  worst  passions  of  the  low  tuul  ignoi-ant  against  Catho- 
lics; others  went  further,  and  by  the  grossest  and  most' 
indecent  fictions,  lil^e  "  Six- Months  in  a  Convent "  and 
Mana  Monk,"  excited  the  mob  against  the  pious  and  help, 
less  ladies  in  our  Catiiolic  institutions,     On  the  11th  of 
August,,  1834,  a  mob,  under  The  very  eyes  of  the  autliori- 
les   attacked  the  Ursuline  Convent  at  Charlestown,  near 
poston,  Massachusetisi.et  lire  to  il;  a,ul,  driving  out  the  ' 
inmates,  plundered  nnd  (k'stroved  ihe  building.     One  of 
the  nuns,  flying  uKJHhc  pupils  from  (he  sacrilegious  inob,  - 
died  soon  after  from  the  effects  of  th.-.i  horrible  night      A 
.Jilock  trial  shielded  the  guilty,  and  all  reflivss  was  denied 
This  fearful  enorniit.y  lei  many  misguided   Pn.testants  to 
reflect,  and  for  a  time  the  storm  was  liill<'(i; 

The   immigration   into  the  eoimtrv  had    by  tin's  tinla 
become*  largely  (ierman.  and    many   of    tlu^   \wsv-runivr>^ 

a  difliculfy,  its 

-    ,  -  in  their  own 

language.  '  -  •  »,,* 

The  Germans  in  Pennsylvania  iiad  early  had  pries^i^ 
^^, fir  own  tongue,  and.thek  Chnreh  of  the  Holy 'l'rr« 
'iff)  Phil;*lelpbia  is  one  o(  the  oldest  in  (he  country.  For 
the  later  immigration.  f|)e  pioneer  j)riest  in  the  Kast  was 
f^u^  Very  Uox.  .Io],„  RalTeiner.  who  erected  (Jerman 
churches  in  New  York,  Hi.ston.  Williainsburg.  and 
Macopin.  and  labored  among  his  countrymen  far  and  wide. 

Bishop  Re/e  of  |)e(roi(,  himself  a  native  of  llailovor, 
took  an  active  in(ero.st  hf  their  welfare.  His  api)eals  to 
the  clergy  and  faifliTiil  in  (he  vanoiLs,  (.'(Minan  States 
brougld  great  aid  in  varjons  ways  to  tfie  Church  m  the 
United  .Slates,  and   wore  to  some  extent  jnstriinicntal  in 


opgpmet  largely  (MU-inan.  and  many  of  tin 
were  .Catholics."'  'Ilo  minister  (o  (hem  was  a 
there  were  few  ])rl'sts  able  to  address  them 
language.  f 


-f; 


»* 


THE  giiuRCH  IN  amj:kica. 


'363 


cstiiblishing  the  Leopold  Society.  This  did,  in  Germany, 
tli'e  work  accomplislied  in  France  by  the  Association  for 
.the  Propagation  of  the  Faitii.  At  his  appeal  the  Redemp- 
torists,  worthy  followers  of  their  founder,  Saint  Alphonsus 
Liguori,  came  over  to  devote  themselves  to  the  Indian- 
,  missions  in  Michigan,  thoi|,^h  they  soon  found  a  wider 
iind  more  extended-  field  for 'fclieir  labors  a^nong  their  Ger- 
man countryuien..    Bishops  gltJtily  committed  to  their  zeal 


-f: 


I*' 


y 


;         ,F*atlH.r  IxMnclo.>  Fi,-Hf  Meeting  with  Mnw  OalliH^in. 

and  piety,  the  new  con-m'^mj iOuh  fhcv  founcfft  so  difTioult 
to  KtTpliJy;  \  "     • 

^     '      The   diwoted   Frederic  Haragii.    nn'  TJlvrian   priest  of 
'      mnk,    also   dev.o(c.i    lUm^elf    to  :thv   Indian*  missions    of 
Michigan.jrfld  Juhoredamoitg  f^^m  till,;i,s  bisliop;.his-7,e;il- 
ous  liftf  was  v\o-d(*(\.  ,        ■      ■ 

4soldioi;^(>f  tl.oOld  Ruropoan  armte*^tht?^ov.  Peter 
Lcmcko    benominp:  a  i)riesJ|,  devoted  hijnsQl|4)the  Ameri- 
^#can  mW^n.  an(J,-8eekin^M)nt(lic  vonerar.lo  Prihccfhojjtzin, 
biKVneJlie  assistanLof  MuVt  i.jn 


y^m 


:^^ii)f)wr 


\ 


4e» 


364 


CHRIST   IX   Ills   CHURCH. 


I>  . 


N 


lii' 


V 


years.^  After  long  service  m  the  Alleglianics,  Fatlier 
■l^emcke  induced  a  Benedictine  Father,  Boniface  Wirnnier 
to  undertake  %i>  establishment  of  l,is  ancient  Order  in  'the 
United  States;  and  from  this  grew  8t.  \-inceiit's  Abbey  in 
lenhsylvania,  which  lias  spread  its  houses  and  filiations 
through  the  country,  giving  excellent i)ricsts  to  the  German- 
speaking  purt  of  the  C'atliolic  community;  and  at  various 
.     points,  Jesuits,  Fraufciscans,  Priests  of  the  -iVecious  BWd 

soon  had  charge  of  German  congregations,  an.l  among  then; 
a  1  the  cause  of  education  has  received  steady  and  constant 
attention. 

The  wants  and  difliculties  of  the  time  led  to  several 
~  Councils  at  lialtimore,  in  mi],m7, 1840,  Mud  184;}.  Under 
their  impulse  tneJndian  itiissions,  which  were  confided  to 
the  Society  of  Jesus,  were  j.ushed  hevond  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains;  ami  the  Fathers  reache.l  0,v^.«i  i6  lul.or  beside  tlu- 
secular  priests  from  Canada,  who  ^^ere  ministering  there 
to  their  countrymen.      .      ' 

Quebec  was  still  the  centre  whence  Cafholicity  radiated  ^ 
over  the  North.      In   the  olden  time  it  had  sent  mission- 
aries f^-om  tlK'  St,  Lawrence  to  Ilndson   Bay,  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods,  NuUhifcoches.  .,ut  ^Vlohilo.      French  Canadian 

trappers  and  voyageurs,  cn.sHng  il ontineni,  haTl  settled 

in  Oivgo.f;  nnd  in  1834  ilu^y  .pph,,!  to  M.,-.  Provf^ncher 
on  lied  K.ver.  ,n  what  ^^v  now  call   M^.nUoba,  for  a  pri^st' 
us  Jiewas  the   nearest  bishop  th^y  |„h.w.     That,   zealous  * 
Tn.ss.onnry  had  few  for  In.  , remediate  work.     Qnebectook 
the  mailer  m  hand,  and  m    1-8:58  despatched  the  Kev    F 
N.    HIanchetand   Hev.   MmLst    Demers  to  Oregon,  whicir 
thus  owes  Its  origin  to  the  ohi   missionarv  Chunb  of  Can- 
ada, the  child   of   Fran(T,  winic    d,.  .[."-snits   came    fn.n, 
I^ouisiana.  whose  l)ish(5pri.'  was  f.n,n.|...l  by  .S|,„in 

■  The  Fathers  in  Missouri  ha.l   from  \HW,  „^,i,,,    k,„|„. 
Van  Qnickenhorn,  begun  mi.HMions  miu>H^  th-  Kirkapoo- 
IMtawotamies.  and  Kansas,  gaming  u.uov  fc.  -h,.   practuV. 
of  the  Christiaa  virtues,  an.l.  aidcl         ^  ,    |  ,,|h>.  of  tl,.. 


'•-  *      t  tj 


^^■^^ ^-^'-'^"— ^^^^ 


I. 

ill 


ti 


i 


K: 


•* 


.T^-,^^^^_-T.^,wr«r^.,„TM,.HrwsBB^ 


w 


W»l^lf 


^"o  cjiHisT  IX  iri8  ciirKcrr. 

Sacred  Heart  and  tl,e  Sistersof  Loretto,  forming  tHem 
e.speciallj  the  female  portion,  to  tlie  life  of  civilimi  Chris'  • 
^^  tians      (hit  of  these  missions-^rew  the  Vicariate  Ai)osto- 
lic  onnd.an  lerntory  and  the  present  Diocese  of  Leaven- 
Through  the  French,  and  especially  through  a  Caiho- 


KhIIi.t  I),,  siii.'i  in.slnifiii 


IK   till'   Jj](lj,iris 


in  Ir,^,Uo,s  fn.,n    C.Mada    «h..  I.,.!   sef.l.dan.ong  the, 


tianity.  arui  dcKircd  u  Miissioiiarv.      Tlxn 
lions 


III, 

JH- 
llt     three   dpj+'tr;|. 


.onsto.ho   Bi^l.op  of  S,.  I.OUH,  fading  however  tw.n. 
tho   rndmns  periHJm.g  o,.  ,1.0  ^'ay  In  ,|,H>.a.e  or  hy  lu„t,lo 


^A 


{ 


tlicni, 
C'hris- 
[)osto- 
(uveii- 

'utlio- 


THE   CHURCH   I^  AMERICA. 


367 


bands.  The  .tliird  embassy  was  more  sucoessful,  anfi 
Father  Peter  J.  De  Smet  was  sent  to  them  in  1840,  begin- 
ning axourse  of  missions  among  die  red  men  of  tiie  Rocky 
Mountains  wliich  has  'made  hfs.  name  familiar  and 
.endeared  to  all.  A  result  of  these  missions  is  seen  in  the 
Catliolic  tribes  of  .the  Flatheads  and  Ka]isi)els,  and  Cath- 
olic communities  among  the  N^Perces  and  Sioux. 

In  less  remote  parts  of  the  country,  too,  the  faitlN^as 
spreading.  •  - 

Jn  183n  Bishop  Loras,  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pelamourgues, 
■pushed  into  Minnesota  to  begin  the  mihistrv  among  those 
who  came  to  settle  the  land  ex])l()red  by  Father  Henneiji«l 
two  hundi-ed  years  before. 

These  were  times  of  beginning.  IJn  1834  there  were 
only  twent.y-five  tliousand  Catholics'  in  the  City  of  PhUn- 
delplyii.^iml  as  ni^y  in  the  large  Diocese  of  Portland. 
There  were  only  tWb  pi-iests  in\vhat  'tl  now  the  Dic^se  of 
Buffalo.  It  was  two  yeaiM^hiter  befgre  Chicago  luid  a  resi- 
dent j)ricst,  iind  OinciiinatVAvas  Ihen  jiroud  of  having  two' 
cliurdies;  and  it  took  another  year  before  Columbus, 
which  has  since  had  two  siicces.'*ive  bisliops,  saw  riie 
first  church  erected.  Eviiu  then  itexcited  sucli  bitterfeel- 
ing  that  it  was  soon  robbed  of  its  vestments  and  idtar 
furniture- 


<fi     # 


I 


il 


'III, 
ris- 

■ga. 
ice, 
tile 


^,^i^s^^^m^s,s^^^.'r^^_  ..■.y.n>ii  i.BPinrwi  ',iS,'m 


K 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Catholic  Schools-State  Schools  hostile  to  the  Faith-The  Fourth 

Cauflcl   of    Baltimore-The  School  Qirestion  in  New  York- 

Spread^Catholic  Edpcational  Institutions- Death  of  Bishop 

^"gl«"^»ew  Dioceses  and  Orders-Texas  added  to  the  United 

A '''''^       '"'^  ""^   ^""^'Siou   there-Bishop    Odin-The  Native 

Party-Philadelphia  liiots  and  Destruetion  of  Catholic 

"ia,,;"^.-^'''''"^  '"   ^"^^'''Q^  ^'"justly  sent  to   Prison-Con- 

^JLidame     Gallitzin-Catholic    Literature-Dr    O    A 

rebn.  ,  '  ■      ■ 

Ik   iHI  ru|.i<l   increase  of  the  Catholic  body,  especially 
in  the  Nta^thern  States,  (he  resources  of  tfe.  faithful  were 
taxed  to  the  utn.ost  to  provide  churcl.es  where  ithey  cw.ld 
hear   Mass    and    a])i)roach    tiie    sacraments,     ilany  were 
pDor  and  struggling,  and   found  it  hard    to  dh  this  'uul 
maintain    tke    priests,  when'  (hey   succeeded  In   havincr 
one  stationed    among  them.     But  the  necessi(y  of  edu*: 
catmg  their  children   in   the   faith  was  also   fett      There 
were  schools  supported  by  general  tax  ,n  many  jlarts^  hut' 
80  far  as  Catholics  were  concerned,  (hes...  nisteadlof  beinff-'i 
benefit  which  tlvey  could  enjoy,  were  deadly  we,|pons  usM 
against  them-j.art  of  a  sat  scheme  to  weaken  tl^e  fuith  of 
their  children.     In  most  of  these.  Pn.testant  do.jrines  w.mv 
openly  tauj^ht  to  the  ehil.iren.  who  were  compellW  t,o  lenrn 
them,  as  well  as  to  use  Protestant  Bihles  and   Protestant 
prayers  under  pam  of  expulsion.  \ 

From  the  first.  Catholics  had  sought  t^  remek  this  Dv 
establishing  parochial  sehools;  and  with  th».  viei  the  Sis- 
ters of  Charity,  so  f^r  as  their  numbers  permitted,  the 
Sisters  of  Loretto  and  Chanty  m  Kentucky.  Sisters  of  Onr 
Lady  of  .Mercy  in  South  Carolina  (all  Orfjers  om^umted  m 
the  country),  as  well  as  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  who  cauM- 
from  Lyons  t«  St.  Lou.s  in  1836.  the  Sisters  of  Providence 


THE   CHUECII   IN   AMERICA. 


369 


who  came  ±o  Indiana  a  few  years  later,  the  Sisters  of  Notre 
Dame,  were  hiboring  for  tlie  general  diffusion  of  sound- 
religious  and  general  instruction;  while  the  Sulpilians, 
Jesuits,  Augustinians,  Ursuline  and  Visitation  Nuns  and 
Ladies''of  the  Sacred  Heart  were  furtliering  ihe  higher  edu- 
cation. 

'There  was  a  faint  hope  that  their  Protestant  fellow-ci-ti- 
zens,  who  as  a  majority  could  control  the  result,  would 
allow  the  i)ublic  schools  to  be  such  that  Catholics  could 
conscientiously  use  them;  and  the  Fourth  Council  of  Bal- 
timore urged  ])astoi-s  to  endeavor  to  secure  this  just  con- 
cession wherever  they  saw  any  possibility  of  obtaining  it. 
The  only  other  alternative  was  to  induce  the  government 
to  recognize  Catholic  schools  as  part  of  the  State  svstem, 
while  the  State  retaijied  the  power  to  make  the  public 
schools  as  sectarian  as  Protestants  might  desire.  But  the 
time  was  not  a  proi)itious  oqe.  It  was  (nie  of  sharp 
religious  controversy,  and  I»rotestant  leaders  were' in  no 
mood  for  any  teniperiitc  or  honest  course. 

The  Fourth  Council  of  Baltimore  met  on  the  ITth  of 
May,  1840,  Mt)st  Rev.  Samuel  Eccleston,  Archbi^hoj)  of 
Baltiinore,  presiding,  and  among  the  Fathers  the  holy 
Bishop  Benedict  J.  Fliiget  of  Bardstown,  the  great  Bishop 
Fngland  of  Charleston,  Bishop  Kenrick  of  Phila(Iel|ihia 
(of  great  theological  fame),  iind  nine  others.  Tlic  Coadjutor 
Bishop  of  NeVv  York,  on  whom  the  administration  of' that 
important  diocese  had  devolved  in  the  age  and  vvcakne.-^s 
of  the  Venerable  Dr.  Du  liois,  was  theirin  Europe  seeking 
aid  to  carry  out  the  works  he  deemed  necessary  for  the 
interests  of  religion. 

The  ('Ouncil  had,  as  we  have  seen,  not  been  silen4,  in 
regard  to  the  school  question;  but  dm-ing  tli(.  absence-of 
Bishop  Hughes,  tlie  issue  w,as  directly  raised  ut  N(>w  York; 
and  on  hh^jH^urn  he  had  to  take  a  leading  i)art  in  it.  less 
us  he  wished  than  as  lie  found  it.  New  York  hail,  for 
many  years,  granted  an  allowance  to  tlio  via-uinn  ^r\uu^U 


,    :>   1   Ik 


^^^m^mmsf,^^msmses^B^mm^^^^^^^m^^^s^s^^^_ 


3to 


CHRIST  m  irrs  church. 


maintained  by  the'  different  dQnominatiqns,  und   also  to 
those  supported    by   "The   Public  School   Society'^   -in 
organization   expressly  intendecl  for  those  not  connected 
^vith    any   particular   church.     This  system  was  at  last, 
abandoned  in  consequence  of  frauds  committed  by  a  Bap- 
tist Church  to  obtain  more  than  it  was  entitled  to  ~     The 
Catholics  of  New  York,  in  1840,  asked  the  Common  Coun- 
ci    to  revive  the  old  system  and  give  aid  to  the  CJiurch 
schools.     As  It  w^clearly  benetit  the  Catholic  schools 
several  denominations  remonstrated;  their  ablest  ministers 
and  famous  lawyers  were  selected   to  argue   the  matter 
before  the  Common  Council  and  on  the  29th  of  October 
Bishop  Hughes,    alone  against  this  array  of  talent,  with 
wonderful  skill,  learning,  and  ability,  nunntained  the  jus- 
tice of  the  Catholic  claim.'    From  that  moment  he  was   in 
the  eyes  of  the  American  people,  the  leader  of  the  Catholic 
body— a  man  whose  power  they  respected. 

The  Common  Council,  as  hlid  i,ocn  expected,  decide.! 
against  the  Cutholfcs;  conviction  could  not  weigh  agaunt 
the  strong  .uiti-Gatholic  prejudice  arous.d  throughout  ,he 

hoi>e   that  a  law    might    be   passe.l    tlu.t    nould   prevent 
teache^.  ni  pubhc  scliools  from  compelling  pupils  L  learn 
doctimes,    heor.es,  prayers,  or  religious  opinions  at  van- 
jtnce  with  those  professed  by  their  parents.     Meetings  were 
held,    and    ,n   addresses   and    publications  the    C:tholies 
endeavoiH^d  to  bring  home  to  the  sober-nuaded  memb    s 
o    the  community,  the  fact  that  they  were  com  bat,  n,  for 
the  gieat  }.rinc.ples  of  human  freedom,  while  their  idbta^o- 
ni.t^s  were  rev.v.rtg  the  odious  systems  of  intolerance.     ' 
■u  the  surprise  of  the  Catholics  the  caf  dates  put  foi- 
vv.iid  for   the  Legislature  by  both  Whi  Jand   Democrat, 
pledged  themselves  ni  advance  to  vote  aga^I^t  the  C.iihoiics. 
Ihere  was  no  alternative.     Catholics  eould  uM.  without 
degrading  their  manhood,  vote  for  either  ticket;  their  only 
eou  rse  ^vas  to  nominate  a  ticket  of  their  own':  and  that  course 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


371 


entailed  the  complete  defeat^^e  Democrats.  Then  both 
parties  sought  to  gain  the  Catholics,  and  the  okl  Public 
School  Society  gave  place  to  a  new^ystcm  of  State  Schools, 
in  which  many  steps  were  made  towards  preventing  evils 
of  the  past;  but  this  was  only  in  theory,  little  difference 
resulting  practically.  The  public  schools  are  to  this  day 
distinctively  sectarian  and  anti-Catholic. 

Tiie  evil  i)assions  aroused  in  the  country  by 'the  mere 
petition  of  the  Catholics  for  what  they  deemed  their  rights 
as  citizens,  taught  them  that  they  must  do  all  themselves 
for  the  education,  of  their  youth,  and  that,  though  the 
State  had  been  the  i)r()tect(>r  and  benefactor  of  all  Protest- 
ant establishments,  to  Catholics  it  would  be  peroistently 
hostile. 

As^  result  of  tlfeir  efforts^  St.  X'avicr  College,  Ciucin- 
nati,  was  opened  by  the  Jesuits  in  1840;  the  next  year  the 
Very  Kev.  E.  Sorin,  founder  of  the  JMcsts  of  the  Holy 
Cross  in  America,  began  the  CoHege  of  Kotre  Dame,  Indi- 
ana; St.  John's  College,  Fordbam,  New  York,  opened  in 
1841;  followed  in  the  succeeding  years  by  Villanova  Col- 
lege, under  the  August  in ians,  in  PennsylvapA^  and  the 
College  of  the  Holy  Cross  at  Worcester,  di-^^d  by  the 
Jesuit    Fathers,   tliougli    Massachusetts  loiig^  denied"  this' 

'college  an' act  of  incorporat'iou'  to  eiuiblo  it  to  bestow 
degrees.  Aboitt  tbe  same  time  tb<\so  accomplished  educa- 
tors, tbe  Ladies  of  (be  Sacred  He;irt,  opened  academies  for 
young  ladies  in-the  Dioeeses  of  .New.  York  and  Pliiladel- 
})hia.  Tbe  diffusion  of  this  Order  .was  due.  in  no  small 
degree,  to  tlie  abibty  of  a  remarkable  lady,  Madame  Gallit- 
zin,  a  Hussian-  Princess,  wlio.  after  a  bing  .strugfjo. 
renounced  the  sebisin  ;ii  which  she  h^]  l.eon  A>ught  tip, 
and,  entering  tlie  Ladies  of  tbe  Sncred  Ilenrt.  cahie  to  the 
United  States  as  visitor.  Siie  founded  several  newko^sofi", 
and  died  of  yelb.w  feter.  in  December.  W^'S,  while  pursu- 
ing her  carwM'  of  usefuhiess. 

_      In  A.rriLJ84;',/lbtiChjiiviLm_lh£ 


States  4^^ 


I 


372 


J-  CitKisT  iw  in'  ,, 


one  of  ,te  p.Ilans  &sl,„^4?ngla„d  of  Cl.arfeton,  who  had* 
b  cnfo.  „a„,  years  the  ablest  exponent  of  its  doctrines 
a..d  l,fc      Singuhirly gifted,  able,  eloquent,  he  instinctively 
approc;ted  the  spirit  and  miud  of  the  An.erican  pe  j, 
and,  ,dont,fj,ng    I„„,el(  thoroughly  with  the  eonn  rv 
aeq.nred  a  reputation  in  all  parts  of  the  Union.     Eloque,!; 
.  'be  pnlp,t  and  with  the  pen,  his  words  carried  oo,"ri  '' 
tion      Before  h,s  time  slander^ against  Catholics  h«d  been 
f  e    ymet.  B,sl.„pli„g,a„d  took  them  up  with  the  sk  11 
of  an  able  dnUecttc,an,*ith  the  widest  range  of  learning; 
and  he  presented   the  tiuth  in  such   colors   that    aftf, 

SlTe  t"  "^r-  '''r  "■""'■^" '"  ™'« -"■ "-  iiii;; 

Gonsciou's  of  tlie  extent  to  which  the  Protestant  mind 
ha   been  biased  by  the  distorted  pictures  of  Catholic  doc- 
tnnend  history  wlucb  are  a^presentcd,  he  hapj.ilv 
used  tins  to  n.ake  hts  languagJBf^heu  addressing  P  of- 
estant  bod.es,  whether  the  ojffi'of  the  United  States 
he  Le^slatnre  of  his  Statc^c^tie  and  eiv,c  gath^  I 
.ngs.     He  not  only  ,,rese„tcd  03*l,olie  doctrines  fairly  to 
non-Cathohcs,  but  wrote  much  to  rcyeal  to  the  faifhfufthe 
nchness  and  beanty  of  our  liturgy  and  rites,  to  which  he 
was  deeply  attached. 

The  organization  of  the  Church  was  furthered  by  the 
sessions  of  the  Fifth  Council  of  Baltimore  in  1843  a,  d  by 
synods  at  New  York,  Boston,  and  New  Orlca,..     N» 

Kock,  Hartford   and  Chicago,  the  l,,,t  of  these  dioceses 
h  ving  only  a  sjngle  church  in  the  city  when  the  bisho, 
ok  up  h  s  residence.     Oregon  gaye  prom  ise  of  such  prog- 
^es..^for^,he   fa.th    that   it  was  made   into   a    Viciiate 

^   The  cause^of  religion  gained  also  by  the  introduction  of 

foundation  of  a  comn.un.ly  of  priests  of  the  Congregation 


m 


\ 


w 


THE   CHURCH   IX   AMERICA. 


373 


of  the  Most  Precious  Blood  by  the  Very  Eev,  F.  de  Sales 
Brunner  in  Ohio,  and  by  a  filiation  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy, 
who  opened  the  first  house  of  their  Order  in  Pittsburgh  in 
1843,  to  begin  the  various  charitable  works  for  which 
Mother  Catharine  McAuley  designed  them. 

Meanwhile  Americans  who  had  settled  in  Texas,  unable 
to  endure  the  op})ressions  and  spoliations  of  the  fluctu^ig. 
governments  of  Mexico,  declared  that  State  an  indepJRit 
republic  and  secured  recognition  in  Europe  and  A^icsl 
As  settlers  at  once  poured  into  that  country,  the  Holy  See 
fh  1840  made  the  Very  Eev.  John  Timon,  who  was  at  the 
time  Visitor  of  the  Lazarists  in  the  United  States,  Prefect 
Apostolic  of  that  republic.  The  religious  condition  of 
Texas  may  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  it  was  necessary  at  once 
to  suspend  the  two  priests  who  were  the  only  clergy 
remaining  there.  The  Very  Rev.  John  M.  Odin,  as  Vice- 
Prefect,  revived  religion,  secured  the  old  church'Jiroperty  to 
the  Catholics,  and  in  1842  was  made  Bishop  of  Claudiopohs 
and  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Texas. 

In  1685  Robert  de  la  Salle  landed  in  Texas  with  a  force 
designed  to  seize  some  of  the   rich  mines  in  Northern- 
Mexico;  but  his  projects,  through  his  incompetence,  ended 
in  his  death  and  that  of  nearly  all  his  party.      Among 
them   were  three  Recollect  Fathers  and  two  Sulpitians^ 
with  powers  from  the  Propaganda  and  the  Archbishop  of 
Rouen.    In  1689  the  Spaniards  occupied  the  country,  Father 
Damian  Macanet  being  the  first  priest.     The  next  year 
missions  were  established  among  the  Cenis  Indians,  which 
were  revived  a  few  years  later:  but  the  re'al  founder  of  the 
Texas  missions  was  the  Ven.  Father  Antonio Margil,  who 
founded  churches   among  the   Cenis,   Bidaies,   Nazones, 
Nacogdaches,    Ays,    Adaye.s,    and    Caddoes:     while    the/ 
Spaniards- settling  at  San  Antonio  were  soon  attended  by 
secular  priests   and   a  parish    establislied.      The    Texas 
mission  ere  long  had  its  martyrs:  Father  Pita  was  killed 
by  the  Lipans,  a  lay  brotlier  ^by^  the   Apaches,  biit  the 


M 


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HiotogTdphic 

Sciences 
Carporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 
WIISTH.N  Y.  USIO 

(716) 


I )  iTT^^oa 


374 


CHRIST   IN   Ills   cilURCH. 


missions  were  extended  to  other  tribes  and  fine  churches 
built,  altliough  several  of  the  fathers  were  killed  in  their 
apostolic  labors. 

Meanwhile  the  Spanish  settlements  increased  by  emi- 
gration from  the  Canary  Islands,  whose  spiritual  wants  were 
attended, to  by  the  Bishop  of  Guadalajara,  till  the  province 
was  made  part  of  the  Diocese  of  Li«ares.  These  bishops 
visited  this  remote. portion  of  their  flock,  and  one  of  them 
died  from  the  hardships  encountered  on  the  visitation  of 
lexas.  An  Irish  colony  was  established  in'  Texas  in  1S39 
which  had  pri6sts  from  their  own  country. 

Bishop  Odin  repaired  the  ancient  church  of  San  Anto- 
nio, and  erected  new  churches  at  Galveston,  Houston  Lava- 
ca Fort  Bent,  St.  Augl.stine,  and  Nacogdoches,  oi)eninff 
schools  wherever  he  could.'  In  a  few  years  the  new  republic 
was  merged  in  the  Union  by  annexation  and  became  one 
of  the  United  States.  .  ,  , 

Meanwhile  the  evil  spirit  of  bigotry,  evoked  by  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  school  question,  was  imbitterod  by  other 
elements— the  jealousy  of  mechanics  excited  by  tiio  compe- 
tition  of  immigrants,  and  by  the  active  part  taken  in 
elections  by  njiluralized  citizens.     A  new  political  imrty 
•  called  Native  Americans,  was  formed,  and  the  country  rang 
with  incendiary  appeals  to  the  ignorant  and  prejudiced 
The  great  cry  was  that   Catholics  wished  to  banish  the 
Bible  from  the  public  schools.     In  fact,  however,  all  that 
Catholics  had  asked  was   that  Catholic  children^ should 
not  be  forced  to  learn  anti-Cathohc  doctrine  and  practices 
m  schools  for  which  they  were  taxed.     But  tlie  crv  took 
with   people   who   never  stop  to   think;    and    the' vilest 
rabble  of  the  great  cities,  ignorant  alike  of  the  letter  and 
«|>.nt  of  the   Holy   Scriptures,  were  shouting  about  the 
»>ble..    In  Philadelphia  the  excitement  was  very  creat 
and   when  a  rain  storm  disturlnHr  a   public   meeting  of 
Native  Americans  in  May,  1844.  and  they  took  refuge  in 
Kensington  Market,  collisions  occurred  between  Homo  .± 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


375 


the  members  and  Irish  Catholic  spectators.     The  next  day 
the  newspapers,  in^  inflammatory  articles,  hounded  on  the 
mob;  public  meetings  were  held;  and  the  placards  put  up 
by  Bishop   Kenrick  urging  his  flock  to  abstain  from  all      " 
violence^were  torn  down.     On  the  8th  of  May  a  mob  set 
fire  to  St.  Michael's  Church,  the  Fire  Department  refused 
to  save  it,  and  the  edifice  consecrated  to  divine  worship 
was  reduced  to  ashes.     Then  a  house  occupied  by  Sisters 
of  Charity  was  fired;  and  in  the  evening  St.  Augustine's 
Church  and  rectory,  with  an  extensive  library  belonging  to 
Villano;ii  College,  wci-e  set  on  fire  and  .destroyed.     Houses 
of  Irish   Catholics   in   various  parts   were    pillaged   a'nd 
burned   and  many  persons  mur.lered;  the  rash' attempt  of' 
a  few  to  defend  their  homes  only  increasing  the  blood- 
thirsty instincts  of  the  mob.     During  all   this  scene  of 
incendiarism  and  murder,  the  city. authoi'i ties   remained 
inactive.      Ihe  next  day  martial  Jaw  was  ju-oclaimed,  and 
or  a  time  the  violence  ended.     Ko  one  was  punished  for 
the  destruction  of  the  Catholic  churches  and  other  property 
and  no  compensation  was  ever  made  to  the  Catholics 

But  the  demon  of  violence  evoked  was  not  crushed.  J 
On  the  5th  of  July  the  pastor  of  St.   Philip  Neri'swas^  " 
warned  of  an  intended  attack  on  his  church.     On  liis  noti- 
fying Oeneral   Cadwallader,  the  militia  were  call^dVuit    ' 
Ihe  rioters  had  seen  the  militia  stand  idle  while4hey  did 
their  work  .in  May,  and  at  once  attacked  the  church   but 
were  driven  off  by  Cadwallader,  who  c<.nvinced  the 'mob       ' 
that  he  was  in  earnest,  on  which  the  civil  authorities  came 
forward  to  save  their  dupes  and  suppresH'd  the  riots. 

When  all  was  over  the  Catholics  had  to  begin  anew- 
many  fled  from  such  a  place;ahe  others  sought  patiently 
to  rebuild  the  homes  and  shrines  that  had  been  immolated 
to  tlie  demon  of  bigotry. 

The  we]l-kno;n  decided  character  of    Bishop   Hughes 
and  the  firm  position  taken  by  the  Catholic  press  and  peo- 
A.m.±  Urn  York  from  .imilH.  ^.^erros,  utthY^Trgh  lEe 


rt-K?"- 


:^\  ■ 


[^    ^ 


376  CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 

V 

-  Native  Americans  had  just  elected  one  of  the  publishers 
of  the  ' '  Maria  Monk  "  fraud  as  Mayor  of  that  great  city.     A 
meeting  that  had  beeii  called  to  create  a  riot  and  inaugu- 
rate scenes  of  incendiarism  was  countermanded  and  the 
'  disaster  averted. 

While  minds  were  thus  inflamed  witli  hatred  of  Catho- 
licity, a  priest  m  Indiana  became  the  object  of  a  persecu- 
tion before   unparalleled.      A  wretched  ^wonian  accused 
him  of  crime  ;  the  public  eagerly  took  up  the  charge  ;  the 
case  was  )iurried  through,  the  jud^e  evincing  the  utmost 
prejudice  and  gloating  over  his  opportunity.     A  jury  as 
partial  as  the  judge  convicted  the  priest ;  but  the  prison 
dQ#j«s  had  scarcely  closed  on  the  confessor  of  the  faith 
than  inquiries  made  as  to  the  woman's  character  in  New 
York,   whence  she  came,  proved  her  to  he  a  most  de- 
graded and  wicked  creature.     In  a  short  time  there  was  a 
general  revulsion  of  feeling,  and  the  Governor  was  but  too 
glad  to  open  the  prison  doors  and  release  an  innocent  and 
injured  man. 

The  violence   and  hatred  of   1844   were  beneficial    to 
Catholic's.     Many  of  the  weak,  deluded  by  the  soljj|kis- 
pcrsof  heresy,  hud  looked  on  it  favorably;  but  the^1(|rbe- 
held  it  in  its  true  colors,  and  felt  that  "in  fidelity/ to  their 
Church  lay  their   true  happiness.     Many  Protestants,  in 
order  to  attack  Catholics,  began  to  read-  Catholic  books, 
which  iiad  been  previously  utteriy  unknown.     The  result 
waa  often  fatal  to  tiieir  Protestantism.     X  singular  case  of 
this  occurred  at  Pompey  in  New  York  State.     A  pedler's 
wagon  broke  down  near  the  house  of  a  worthy  miller  and 
farmer  named  Dodge,  who,  going  to  the  pedlar's  aid,  found 
the  damage. beyond  immediate    remedy  and  invited^the 
man  to  pass  the  n'ight  at  his  house.     There,  by  the  clearer 
light,  ho  saw  that  ho  had  asked  an  Irishman  and  undoubt- 
edly a  Catholic  within  his  walls.     After  a  night  spent  in 
great  anxiety,  Mr.  Dodge  took  his  guest  to  a  smith  to  make 
the  necessary  repairs.     When  all  was  completed  the  pedler    • 


ii£«UM«iiisiMiiHMHii 


THE  -CHURCH  IN  AMERICA. 


377 


wished  to  compensate  his  entertainer  for  his  kindness,  but 
neither  Dodge  nor  his  wife  would  accept  anything.  Outof 
curiosity,  however,  he  took  a,,  httle  "Butler's  Catechism," 
and  when  the  man  hail  gone*his  way  began  to  read  it. 
Every  statement  seemed  to  li^^'m  clear  ^  and  reasonable. 
Bible  in  hand,  he  examined,  and  con-viction  increased.  He 
ordered  from  New  Yoi^  all  the  books  found  in  fl,  catalogue 
at  the  end  of  the  Catefchism,  and,  reading  them  to  his  fam- 
ily and  neighbors,  led  many  to  regard  the  Catholic  as  a 
very  sound  and  sensible  system..  Knowing  no\Catholic, 
and  above  all  no  priest,  even  by  name,  except  Bishop 
Hughes,  the  gentleman  wl-oto  to  him,  asking  to  b,e  received 
into  the  Catholic  Church. 

About  this  time  died  a  remarkable  man,  who  hf»,d  taken 
a  prominent  .part  in  Catholic  affairs.  Prince  Demetrius 
Gallitzin  was  the  son  of  the  Russian  ambassador  to  Hol- 
land and  of  the  Princess  Amelia,  a  lady  who,  breaking 
away  from  the  fa^ionable 'free-thinking  of  her  time,  be- 
came a  model  of  piety.  Her  son,  intended  by  his  father 
for  the  army,  was  sent  at  the  outbreak  of  the  French 
revolution  to  travel  in  America  with  a  tutor.  Here  he 
resolved  to  devote  himself,  to  the;?anctuary,  and,  renounc- 
ing the  brilliant  career  before  him  in  Europe,  entered 
Bishop,  Carroll's  scmiiiary,  and  was  the  second  on  whom 
he  laid  his  hands  in  the  sacrament  of  Holy  Orders. 
His  first  labors  were  in  Conewago,  Pennsylvania  ;  but 
he  soon,  conceived  the  idea  of  a  Catholic  colony,  and, 
as  has  been  incidentally  stated,  devoted  all  the  resources  he 
could  command  from  Europe  to  gather  Catholic  settlers 
around  his  Chnreh  of  Lorotto  in  the  Allegharties.  Thougli 
thus  seeking  obscurity  and  flying  all  honors,  zeal  led  him 
to  meet  in  controversy  some  who  assailed  religion  in  those 
parts.  His  "  Defence  of  Catholic  Principles  "  showed  such 
clearness  and  pre'cision  that  it  has  been  frequently  re- 
ed in  Europe  and  America,  in  English,  French,Vjind 


printed  ; 
Germam 


were  w iduly  diasemimttcd. 


mm 


y 


378 


CHEIST  IN  HIS   CHUHCH. 


•,.e-\ 


►>-- 


doing  great  good.    In  the  care  of  his  congregations  he  ^as 
8tr«>  and  exact,  but  won  all  by  untiring  Lf  and  devote 

Te^  tleT  ilT-     ^r^^^  ^'  ^"-^-^^  ^0  ^^^'^ 
was  entitled  ir,  Europe,  he  was  harassed  by  cares^  in  Iiis 

T  T  ".'  f  '"^"•"*  '^""  P^^'^f"^  d-^-es;  b^h    bo 
all  with  unshaken  courage  and  equanimity,  and  died  a 
holy-^eath  a<,  Loretto,  May  6,  1840 

iThJ^'T^'n"""'^'^  ^"''  '''^  "^^'^^  C^^t^^«li«  literature 
Snts^f  P-bl--t-ns  in  the  United  States  had  been  re" 
piints  6f  standard  works   publisbcd  in   Europe    aM  of 
^ersi.   like  thc>se  of  Carroll,  Thayer,  ^^!^:^ 
J^deien      The  Rev.  C.  C.  Pise  initiated  works  of  a  nleas 

faithful.  Catholic  publishers,  Dunigan,  Sadlier,  Murphy 
under  ook  -w  works,  and  increased  greatly  the  librfri' 
of  ou  readers.  But  in  1844  the  Church  received,  as  an 
humble  catechumen,  one  of  the  most  profound  and  logica 

thrht  T^n''  Tf  ""  '"'  ''''''  ''''  ^"^---k  ot  Catholic 
thought.  Though  he  occasionally  issued  other  works  of  a 
less  severe  cast,  his  reputation  rests  mainly  on  the  Review 
wh,ch  bore  his  name,  and  which  for  nearly  a  ouarter  of  I 
cen  ury  was  the  most  learned  and  philosophi  al  Catholic 
pubhcation  in  the  Engli^  language.  ^acnoiic 

Orestes  A.  Brownson  was  born  in  1803  in  Vermont,  a 
State  noted  for  the  .igor  of  l,er  sons.     His  mind  was  too 
cle«i    to  rest  long  cramped    by  New  England  theology, 
and  in  the  jiarrow  eircle  of  local  dissent  he  sought  a  relig! 
lous  system  that  he  could  respect.     But  Univemlism  and 
ITnitanamsm,  though  he  embra(Jdd  them  and  advocated 
their  doctrines  as  a  minister,  j^roved  hollow  and  unsub- 
tantuil.     They  were  not  the  Church,  andduring  the  year 
1844  grace  enl.ghtened  his  mind  so  that  he  saw  in  Cath- 
olicity what  h,s  heart  had  yearned  for.    He  at  once  sought    " 
instruction  with  all  the  docility  of  a  child,  and  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Church.     To  the  day  of  his  death,  April 


THE   CllUIiCII  IN   AMERICA.  379 

\ 

17,  1876,  he   was  constant  in  all  his  Christian  duties 
having  found  true  peacS  in  the  unity  of  Catholicity. 

.  Besides  the  Catholics  from  abroad  and  those  born  of 
Catholic  parentage  in  this  country,  the  Church  received 
constant  accessions  by  conversion.      She  had  to  deplore- 
serious  losses ;   many  Catholics  who  settled  far  from  all 
opportunity  of  attending  Mass  atid  frequenting  the  sacra- 
ments, in  time  lost  all  trace  of  Catholic  piety,  allowing 
thfeir  children  to  grow  up  without  an,y  instruction  in  their 
faith.     In  such  homes,  prayer,  catechism,  and  instruction 
were  unknown,  and  the  children  learned  in  the  sectarian 
public   schools   all  maimer  of    slander  and   insmiMTtion 
against   the   religion  of  their  parents.      In  other  wises, 
Catholics  rising  in  the  worid  forgot  their  God,  who  be- 
stowed prosperity ;  and,  instead  of  giving  their  poorer  and 
weaker  brethren  an  example  of  fidelity  to  their  religious 
duties,  concealed  their  Cathohcity-  to  win  favor  with  the 
empty  and   irreligious  society  in  which  they  sought  to 
mingle.     Otiiers  sought  to  cover  the  criminal  life  which 
excluded   them   from   Catholic   fellowship  by  ostensibly 
adopting  some  form  of  Protestantism: 

But  while  the  Church  thus  lost  some  of  the  weak  and 
wicked,  she  received  constantly  men  and  women  of  educa- 
tion, thought,  and  position,  who,  conscious  of  all  that  the 
steir  would  c(^  them,   bravely  responded   to  the  grace 
of  God -and  hurfibly  entered  the  Church. "   These  conver- 
sions had  been  going  on  from  the  settlement  of  Maryland 
through  tiie  colonial  times.    After  the  Revolution,  Thoma^ 
bimnis  Lee,  who  had  been  Governor  of  Maryland,  became 
a  Catholic;   Rev.  Mr.  Thayer  at  Boston;   Mrs.  Seton  in 
^ew  York;    the  Barbers  in  New  Hampsnire ;   the  Rev     ' 
Mr.   Richards,  a  Methodist  clergyman  of  Western  New 
York ;    but   the  great   movement  was  in   the  Episcopal 
Church.     That  church  was  established  in  Connecticut  as 
aprotest  against   the   tyranny  of  Calvinism;   and  while 
Episcopalian i^n  in  some  parts  sought  to  approaclf  Calviu- 


t 


380 


CHRIST  IN  His   CHURCH. 


ism,  there  it  questioned  every  form  of  the  old  tyranny. 
The  school  of  thought  established  in  Connecticut  led  many 
to  Wie  Church:  Rev.  Messrs.  Kewley,  Ironsides,  White, 
Bay  ley,  besides  laymen  who  examined  and  prayed. 

When  Oxford  became  the  centre  of  a  school  in  England, 
reviving  the  study  of  the  Fathers  and  examining  calmly 
what  doctrines  were  professed,  what  worship  followed,  and 
what  religious  ideas  were  entertained  by  tlie  Christians  of 
the  earlier  centuries,  they  began  to  adopt  one  point  of 
Catholicity  after  another,  till  there  was  no  logical  course 
.  but  to  become  Catholics,  though  many  faltered,  occupying 
for  years  a  false  position. 

The  writings  of  this  Oxford  school  found  many  readers 
among  American  Episcopalians,  especially  among  the  stut 
dents  of  tlieir 'theological  seminaries,  who  became  arrayed 
into  two  distinct  parties.     Alarm  was  given,  and  the  ques- 
tion^ had  to  be  met.,    Manv^f  the  Episcopal  clergy  and 
students  who  liad  embraced^Tractarian  views,  lost  all  hope 
of  being  able  to  restoix)  their  denomination  to  fellowship 
with  the  Church,  and  came  to  seek  admission  to  the  true 
fold.      A   number  were    received    by   the   Redemptorist 
Fathers,  some  entering  that  zealous  Order,  to  do  immense 
good  in  tliat  congregation  and  tlie  Paulist  Society  as  mis- 
sionary priests;  others  as  secular  priests,  editors,  or  writers 
helped  to  defend  the  truth,  refute  error,  and  diffuse  sound 
thought.  ■ 

A  strange  persecutibn-in  Prussia,  where  the  King  tried 
to  mould  Lutheran  and  Cjdvinist  into  one  body,  sent  many 
emigrants  to  this  country;   but  the  staunch   Lutherans 
found  their  church  in  America  so  lax  that  many,  with  their  ' 
clergy,  sought  peace  in  the  Catholic  Church.     . 

Among  the  distinguished  converts  may  be  mentioned    ' 
Archbishop  Eccleston  of  Baltimore,  Archbishop  Bayley  of  . 
the  same  see.  Archbishop  Wood  of  Philadelphia,  Bishop 
Rosecrans  of  Ciilu«ibus,  Bishop  Tyler  of  Hartford,  Bishop 
Gilmonr  of  Cleveland,  Bishop  Young  of  Erie,  Bishop  Wad- 


mmmmmm 


.    TIIK    <'|IUI«;iI    I,v    AMKMCA.  381 

r«M„.„.  ,.>,,.  E      0.  A.  W„>w„,.U>,  Rev.  F.  A.  Baker 

H  ;  ,^  Vr'"'  *'™-  ^<»>"»»y.  foundress  <,f  the  So 
coty  of  1,0  Holy  Child  Jcs„«;  Dr.  Levi  Silli^n  Ivts 
who  had  bee,,  I-.-ofpatant  Episcopal  Bishop  of  North  Ca,^ 
Ima;  Mrs  Peters,  of  Cincinnati;  James  A.  MeMaster 
ed,tor  of  the  Freeman's  Journal;  G„vto,or  AleLongh  ,  ' 
Governor  Burnett  of  Oregon.  ^       ' 


^i. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Tlie    Mexican  W&r— Military   Chaplains— Catholic  Territory    an- 
^  UL'xe#-Skt'tch  of  Religion  in  New  Mexico— Bishop  Lamy,  Vicar 

Apostolic — California  and  its  Early  Missions — Father' Juniper 
Serra— Bishop  of  both  Californias — See  of  Monterey — Bight  Rev. 
Joseph  S.  Aleniany— Emigration— Archbishopric  of  Oregon  and 
Diocese  of  Nesqually— Sees  at  Albany,  Buffalo,  Cleveland- 
Bishop  Cretin  and  Minnesota — Othei"  New  Sees. 

The  iiniiexiition  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  led  to  a 
war  with  Mexico,  and  among  the  troops  sent  to  the  fron- 
tier were  many  Catholics.  The  bigotry  so  recently  excited 
in  the  country  had  reached  the  army,  and  Catholics  were 
punished  for  refusing  to  take  part  in  Protestant  worship. 
This  aroused  a  stern  i)rotest,  and  steps  were  taken  to  ])rc- 
vent  snch  tyranny.  Government  even  solicited  Catholic 
chai)laius  for  the  army  ;  and  two  Jesuit  Fathers,  McElroy 
and  Key,  were  sent  to  the  post  of  danger,  Father  Key  soon 
to  be  murdered  while  in  tl^e  discharge  of  his  sacred  calling. 
*  The  war  was  disastrous  to  Mexico,  and  the  treaty  of 

f  Guadalupe  Hidalgo  not  only  renounced  all  claim  to  Tejois, 
but  also  ceded  to  the  United  States  New  Mexico'and  Cali- 
fornia. All  this  was  Catholic  territory,  and  had  been  from 
the  earliest  settlement.  An  Italian  Franciscan  Father, 
Mark,  of  Nice,  liad  penetrated  to  tlie  strange  towns  of  the. 
Pueblo  Indians,  built  of  sun-dried  bricks  and  rising  several 
stories  in  height,  as  early  as  1539.  Five  missionaries,  fol- 
lowing in  his  steps,  perished  in  attempting  to  plant  Chris- 
tianity on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Rio  Grande.  When  the 
Spaniards  at  last,  in  1595,  under  Don  Juan  de  OHate,  oc- 
cupied the  country.  Father  Roderic  Duran,  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Francis,  reared  a  convent  and  church  in  the  town  of 
San  Gabriel  del  Yunque,  the  first  white  town,  known  since 
the  commencement  of  the  following  century  by  the  name 


THE  CHURCH  IN  AMERICA.  '     ,      S8S 

,  of  Sauta  Fe.  Missions  were  establisiied  in  alUl.o-  pueblos 
,  or  towns;  and  tlio^rh  the  ]>riest^  of  their  old  fi.o-worship- 
ping  creed  made  strong  opposition,  especially  at  Picuries 
und  laos,  nevertheless  in  1626  there  were ,  twenty-six 
churches  in  the  country,  and  Catholic  converts  numbering 
many  thousands,  some  of  the  tribes  having  all  embraced 
the  faith.  Every  mission  had  its  school,  whei-e  the  chil- 
dren learned  to  read,  wri^e,  and  sing. 

The  Pranciscao*  extended  their  labors  to  the^Moquis 
the  Navajoes,  and  even  to  the  fierce  Apacli^s.     But  Pagan- 
ism, though  defeated,  was  not  crushed.     It  had  many  secret 
votaries;  and  in  1680  these,  led  by  a  chief  named  Pope 
made  an  outbreak  at  Jemes,  butchering^  the  missiona.T 
Father  Morador  with  great  cruelty.     Then  other  towns 
rose,  and  in  a  few  days  twenty-one  missionaries  lay  dead 
among  the  ruins, of  their  churches  and -cbnvent..  -  The 
neophytes  ^werc  paralyzed  with  terror,  and  forced  to  join 
he  h(.xthen  band^  in  the  attack  on  Santa  Fe.     Unable  to 
hold  It,  Governor  Otermin  evacuated  the  territory,  which 
was  not  recovered  till  1G92.     Th'e  next  year  the  missions 
were  restored;. and,  though  some  of  thtr  Fathers  lost  their 
lives,   the  good  work  was  maintained    till   early  in   this  ^ 
century.     Regular   parishes   were   founded   at  Santa   Fe 
Albuquerque,  and   S^^Cniz,   with  secular  priests   to    . 
attend  them.     The  B^ps  of  GuadaTajara  ank,  on  the 
division  of  that  diocese,  tl,e  Bishops  of  Durango  watched 
over  the  missions  of  New  Mexico;  and  several  visitations 
made  at  great  peril  and  amid  constant  hardships  show 
how  faithfully  they  discharged  their  duties. 

Early  in  the  seventeenth  century  the  erection  of  a 
bishopric  had  been  urged,  but  this  was  not  carried  out 
In  November,  1850,  the  Holy  See  made  New  Mexico  a 
Vicariate  Apostolic,  and  confided  it  to  the  Right  Rev.  John 
B.  Lamy,  consecrated  Bishoj)  of  Agathonica.  It  contained 
sixty   thousand   Mexicans    and  eight   thousand    Catholic 


^ 


384 


CHRIST-  IN   HI8   CHURCH. 


Bishop  Lf^ay  iH^oreH  earnestly  to  give  his  flock  good 
^priests,  and  to  revive  education^ wliich  had  been  greatly 
neglected  under  Mexican  rule.  He  introauced  the  Sisters 
of  Loretto,  the  Brothers  of  the  Christian  Doctrine,  and  tlit 
-Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  so  th^t  colleges,  academics, 
schools  and  charitable  institutions 'soon  ^gnye  token  of 
improvement.  The  Territory  Jias  never  been  admitted  as 
a  State,  and. the  ^ministrations  apppinted  at  -Washington 
have  been  generally  hostile  to  thg  faith  of  the  people,  and 
persistent  effort  has  been  made  to  deprive"  the  Indiana  of 
their  religious  teachers.  ^ 

,  '■  A  still  more  important  acquisition -by  the  treaty  with 
Mfexico  was  the  province  of  tipper  California,  which,  in^its 
history,  rivals  Paraguay  as  one  of  the  greatest  triumplTs  of 
Catholic  missionaries.     Before  there  was  an  English  settle- 
■  ment  on  oiir  Atlantic  coast,  two  Carmelite  FaHiers  offered' 
up  the  Holy  Sacrifice  beneath  an  oak  tree  on'  the  shore  of 
Monterey  in   IGOl;    and   only  thirty  years  later  a  Vicar 
■     Ecclesiastic  of  the  Bishop  of  Guadalajara  exercised  juris- 
diction in  Lower  California.     There  Jesuit  missions  grew 
up  that  gradually  extended  to  the  upper  province,  winning 
the  natives  to  Christianity  and  civilization,  and  marking 
the  soil  ^ith  the  deatrh-blood  of  Fathers  who  laid  dowm 
-  their  lives  in  the  zealous  discharge  of  their  apostolic 'duties. 
When  the^Society  of  Jesus  was  driver  from  its  missions 
and  colleges  by  the  Spanish  Govei-nment,  the  field  of  Upper 
California  was  assigned  to  the  Franciscans.     Proyidentially 
they  had  as  Superior  a  holy  and  able  priest.  Father  Juniper 
Serra,     On  the  *6th  of  July,1769,  he  foiTnded  the  Comaya 
mission  of  San  Diego,  and  erected  a  chapel  and  mission- 
house,  whicli  was  ahnost  at  once  consecrated  with  blood, 
||ther  Vizcaino  being  wounded  and  an  «ltar-boy,killed  by 
hostile  Indians. 

San  Carlos   de   Monterfiy,  San  Antonio,  Carmel,  San 

Gabriel,  San  I^iis  ObispV  San  Juan  Capistrano,  were  the 

•  next  missions  established  before  tlie  end  of  1772,  each  with 


^-\ 


{ 


,      '    .      ',        Tlli:  ClIURQH   IN   AMEIilCA.  '  vj386 

zealo'us.  Facers,  who  began  to  Jearn- the  language  of  the 
ndiansanci  train  them  to  useful  trades,  w-hite  imparting 

1  ,tlf '^\f  ,^^";f  ^^^'^y  ^      disabusing  them  of  thf  . 
^Id^ables.     While  all  seemed   to  promise  the  complete- 

^  ^onfersioTiof  the  prpvinoe, -the  mission  of  San  DiJgo  was 
again  attacked  at  night,  and  the  buildings  set  otfire, 
J^ather.Loms  Jayme,  awakened  by  the  noise,  went  forth" 
and^greeted  the  Indians  with  his  usuai  pious  words:  bu*- 

^  «  ^l^^P""'^^']''  theglarex)f  t^he  burning  bu^ildings,  was 
soon  bnsthng  with  arrows,  ^ and  as ^  he  ^11  the  savages 
rushed  upon  him  and  despatched  him  with  their  swords  of 
nardened  wood.  ^^ 

Yet  the  Franciscans,  continued  their^^^jm-k,  Wridmff 
San  Francisco  in  1776,  and  Santa  Glara^  the  following      '    . 
year      At  ^lUhese  missions  there  were  fiuB  churches  and  « 

«,l^'"fi    ^^^'^"^'"^^'>-^'^«d^«^g^-^c"ltureandtrades-^       ■     ^ 
supplied  laip   quantities  of  produce  and  manufactured^     "^ 
goods,,  which  were  shipped  yearly  by.  the  missionaries,  anH 
necessary  supplief  for  the  Indiails  purchased  and  money    •       "  . 
-t>b  ained  for  new  improvem^it^.    'The  Indians  wei^  not  -     -       • 
only  no  expense  to  governnr^ent,«b«t  wj^re  gelflsupporting  '^         ' 
and.  rapidly  increasing  in  mean«.     Near  each  missL  was  - 
a  presidio,  o^ilitary  st.ttion,  with  a  few,  soldier?  for  defence 
against  hostile  Indians;  and  aroun^some  of  these  .white        - 
settlements   gathered,  chiefly  of.  discharged   soldiers  and 
their  famihes       The  most  important -villages  were   Los  • 
Angeles,  San  Jose,  and  Branciforte,  near  Monterey     •    "  - 

In  1774  Father  Serra  was  macle  prefect  Apostolfc  and ' 
dred  the  sanie  year,  having- liv^d, to  see  ten  «iousand  India^  ^      ' 

convei^s.     His  successors  extended  the  missions  tillthe 
revolution  began  which  madd  Mexico  a  republic.      Then         .        ' 
trouble  came;   the  newgovernment  showed  little  regard    -    " 
forreligiom      In  183^  an  act  of  Congress  dissolved  the  -      , 

missions;   the   lands  were  seized,  the^ndians  driven  T>ff     '  V 

and  the  missionaries   left  so  destitute  that  one,  Father 
Sarrfe,  fell  dead  at  the  altar  of  pftre  starvation.      Snhge-,.         : 


^'\ 


u 


jy 


386 


CHRIST  IN  HIS   CHURCH. 


,y 


quent  legislation  endeavored,  though  too  late,  to  /emedy 
the  mischief;  obiit  the  income  of  the' Pious  Fund  of  Cali- 
fornia, established  by  charitable  benefactors  in  the  last- 
century,  was  withheld.  In  1840  the  Holy- See  estab- 
lished the- Diocese  of  Both  Californias;  and  the  Prefect  of 
the  Mission,  Father  Francisco  GaVcia  Diego,  became  Bishop. 
^  He  took  up  his  retjidence  at  Santa  Barbara,  and 
attempted  to  found  a  convent  and  seminary;  but  the  Fund 
income  was  not  paid,  and,  though  a  large  grant  of  land  was 
made,  he  died  in  1{^6  without  accorhplisliing  any  of  his 
projects.  He  did  w-luitxhe  could  to  revive  a  si)irit  of 
religion  among  I'lis  iluck,  and  especially  to  save  the  rem- 
nant of  the  Mission  Indians,  which  h.'id  dwindled  from 
thirty  to  four  thousand. 

When  California  became  part  of  the  United  States  some 
emigration  from  the  older  States  began,  the  climate  and 
soil  offering  attractions  ;  but  witliin  two  years  gold  was  dis- 
covered, and  the  wijole  country  i)roved  to  be  rich  in  that 
precious  metal.     At  once  thousands  poured  in  from  all 
parts,  making  their  way  by  land  and  water.     A  city  sprang 
•  up  at  San  Francisco,  and  many  of  those  new-comers  were 
Catholics.      The  administrator  of  the  diocese.  Very  Kov. 
J.  M.  Gonzales,  a  man  of  zeai,  had  no  priests  for  this  now 
flock  till  some  came  from  Oregon,  when  a  wooden  shanty 
at  Siui  Francisco  was  bought  and  blessed  in  1849.      The 
next;^ear  the  Holy  See  divided  the  California  diocese  and 
established  a  new  see  at  Moiitercy,  tjie  Very  Rev.    Joseph 
S.  Alemany,  Provincial  of  the  Dominicans  in  Ohio,  being 
appointed  bishop.     Fathers  of  his  Order  soon  came,  with 
nuns  of  tht)  same  rule.     From  Oregon,  nearly  depoi)ulated 
by  the  rtish  of  gold-seekers  to  Ciriifornia,  came  Sisters  of 
Kotre  Dame.      A  few  years  later  Sisters  of  Charity  and 
Jesuit  Fathers  began  to  labor  in  tJie  same  field. 

T!?o  remnant  of  the  Mission  Indians  became  subject  to 
the  control  of  the  Indian  DoJ^artment  at  Wafthington, 
which  lias  aJrooat  always  -been  nianagc^^^      a  apirit  hnHfjlg^ 


<9 


THE  CHURCH  IN  AMEBIC^. 


<& 


387 

nands  and  cut  off  from  the  ministry  of  Catholic  priests 

a^Lv"""l'  f '  "  '"'  ™"^^^  ^l^-«  Indian!  W 
aheady  punished,  and  were  pushed  aside  by  the  ener Jet  c 
new-comers.  •'         •="eigctio. 

While  religion  was  thns  consolidating  her  inst[t,„tln„« 
m  the  newly  acquired  territory,  she  had  bs'no  M  g     '  h 
older port,o„s.    Emigration  from Gern.any,  bnngi„gma„„ 
who  were  ,,ractieally  infidels,  few  .ealons  Proteslmte  b^ 
many  Catholics,  steadily  increased  ;  and  in  1847  thetai 
n  Ireland  caused  thou,,and|to  fly  from  that  unhappy  Id 
to  seek  homes  m  the  Ncw#rld.     Fever  broke  o.fi,    he 
crowded  slnps  and  many  died  soon  after  landing,  butV>   e   s 
|u.d  sisters  were  at  hand  to  give  them  tended  are  a  ,U, 
the  consolations  of  religion,  not  a  few  of  them  winning  the 
crown  of  martyrs  of  charity  >vinningllie 

In  ™."'«""'^'"i<'"  »'"!  Hi^Mion  o,f  the  Clun-ch  went  on. 
In    840  Oregon  was  raised  loan  arcbiepisco,.al  see   with 
.  Wallawalh^  (now  Ne.s,„ally) and  Vancon  er's  sland  as s 
togans.     The  nc.t  jear8t.  Lonis  beeamean  a,.d    isi.S     , 

Iowrt,:r'"r'T'',' "'  ^"""^'  """"'"'  -"  ClevelLd 
How  Cathohc.ty  had  increased  in  New  York  Stale  may  be 

aeen  ui  the  fact  that,  in  his  first  year,  the  new  I  i."?p        ' 
Albany  found  m  h.s  dkn^cse  twenty  churches  and  thi  -ly. 
four  priests;  and  in  Ohio  the  Bishop  of  Cleveland  beg™ 
with  sixteen  chnrchcs  and  thirty-three  priests 

The  great   temlency  of  immigration  was  to  still  more 
ws  01  y  parts  where  hind  was  almost  free  and  ,J  the  great" 
ost  fertilily.     I„  I849  Bishop  Cretin  was  consecrated  for  a 
now  s<.e,  e..tablishe,l  at  .St.  Paul,  Minnesota.      He  had  bee 
a  missionary  among  whiles  an,l  Indians  in  Wisconsin  ami 
rowa,  and  knew  the  country  and  people  well.     He  deyoled 

himscrttoenconmgeCatholieimmigranlstocomoandsettlo 
m  Ins  dioeose,  and  was  gratified  with  beholding  a  fine  in- 
diNtrions,  intelligent  lloek  gather  around  him  In  mo 
sees  were  established  at  Wlie^ling  and  „t  Savauuah.  ul- 


0 


388 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


though  the  Catholic  body  had  not  increased  very  rapidly  in 
Western  Virginia  and  (leorgia.      At  the  same 'time  New 
Orleans  became  a  metropolitan  see,  and  the  old  province 
of  Baltimore  was  divided  by  the  promotion  of  the  Bishops 
of  New  York  and  Cincinnati  to  the  dignity  of  archbishops. 
In  New  York  State  the  Catholic  body  had  so  increased  that 
,     it  became  necessary  to  make  Long  Island  a  diocese  ;  and  at 
the  same  time  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  hitherto  divided 
between  the  Dioceses  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  was 
placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  a  bishop  at  Newark.     Tiie 
Indian  Territory  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  New 
Mexico  were  made  Vicariates  in  1850,  and  for  the  latter  ter- 
ritory a  see  was  erected  at  Santa  Fe  three  years  later,  and 
in  the  East  another  at  Erie,  in  Pennsylvania. 

•The  provmce  of  Cincinnati  embraced  also'th^  dioceses 
of  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Louisville,  and  Vincennes.      The 
venerable  Archbishop  Purcell  had  already  founded   the 
Theological   Seminary  of   Mt  St.    Mary's  of   the  West, 
,  which  became  for  thirty  years  a   nursery  of   pious   and 
learned   priests.      In   1855.  he   held   his   first   Piovincial 
Council,  which  devoted  itself  mainly  to  Catholic  educa- 
tion and  the  cause   of  temperance.     A  second  Council 
followed  in  1858,  and  in  Oct6ber  of  that  year  he  cele- 
brated the  Silver  Jubilee   of  his  ejiiscopal  consecration. 
Although  Cleveland  had  been  made  a  se})arate  bishopric, 
the  diocese  in  18(50  contained  100,000  Catholics,  with  148 
churches  and  1^3  priests.     Rt.  Rev.  S.  H.  Rosccrftns  was 
a|)pointed  bishop  auxiliar  in  1802,  and  some  years  after 
Bishop ^f   Columbus,  the  diocese  being  again  divided. 
In  J 870  tlie  Catholics  tested  m   the  tribunals  the  right 
of  the  Public  School  authorities  to  inculcate  Protestant- 
ism on  Catholic  pupils,  but  failed  to  obtain  justice.     In 
1880  the  churches,  prie8ti•^  and  jjcople  in  the  diocese  of 
Cincinnati   exceeded   those  in  its  larger  extent  in   1800; 
while  religious  of  more  than  (ifieen  Orders  are  laboring 
in  education  or  works  of  mercy. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Tl.e  Blessed  Virgin  Concei^^ed  without  Sin  chosen  Patroness  of  the 
Church  in  the  United  States-Progress  of  the  Benedictines  in 
the  United  Btutes-The  Passion ists-Brothers  of  the  Christian 
Schools-Brothers  of  Mary-Sisters  of  the  Good  Shepherd-The 
First  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore-New  Sees-The  American 
College  at  Kome-Archbishop  Bedini  sent  by  the  Pope  as 
Nuncio  to  the  United  States— An ti- Catholic  Agitations— The 
Know-Nothiugs— Acts  of  Violence-Father  Bapst-Churches 
destroyed  in  New  Hampshire  and  Maine— At  Williamsburg  and 
Newark— Anti-Catholic  Laws— The  Louisville  Riots-Arcli. 
bishop  Hughes— Bishop  Spalding. 

The  Sixth  Provincial  Council  of  Baltimore,  bcndes 
adopting  salntary  rules  of  discipline,  sought  supernatural 
aid  in  the  extension  of  religion  and  moralitj  by  placing 
the  country  under  the  protection  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary  Conceived  without  Sin,  who  was  formallv  chosen 
as  the  Patroness  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States. 
Oregon  held  its  first  Provincial  Council  in  February, 
1848,  and  Baltimore  her  seventh  in  1849.  Svnods  were 
iield,  too,  in  various  dioceses. 

During  this'period  the  ancient  Order  of  Benedictines 
began  labors  in  the  United  States,  which  have  been  sig- 
nally  blessed  by  God.  In  184(5  the  Rev.  Boniface  Wim- 
mer,  of  the  Abbey  of  Metten,  in  Bavaria,  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania with  some  candidates  for  choir  and  lay  Ijrothers 
and  was  placed  by  Bishop  O'Connor,  of  Pittsburgh,  on  prop- 
erty in  Westmoreland  County  purchased  in  the  last  cen- 
tury by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bmwers,  the  first  priest  in  that  part. 
Here  Dom  Wimmer  founded  a  moniistery,  to  which  he 
annexed  a  seminary  and  college,  and  received  so  manv 
postulants^that  the  '"atitutions  attained  great  prosperitj. 


innr  the  monastery  j|i^ erected  into  an  abbey.     Missions 


\ 


390 


r 


CHRIST  IN   HIS-CHUEOH. 


were  established  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  in  New  Jer- 
sey, Kentucky,  Illinois,  Kansas;  Minnesota,  North  Caro- 
hna,  and  Georgia.  These  prospered  so  that  other  abbeys 
were  established  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and  St  Cloud 
Minnesota.  The  Fathers  of  the  Order  labored  almost  ex- 
clusively .among  the  Germans,  and  have  rendered  ^great 
service  to  religion.  One  monastery,  that  of  Creston 
Iowa,  18,  however,  altogether  English  speaking. 

About  1850  a  colony  of  Benedictine" Fathers  from  the 
famous  monastery  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Hermits,  Einsie- 
deln,  Switzerland,  founded  the  monastery  of  St.  Mein- 
rad's  in  Ind.ana,    which  has  furnished  excellent  priests 
to  that  State,  and  subsequently  the  Abbot  Martin  Marty 
undertook  Indian  missions  in  Diikota  Territory  among  the 
Sioux.     His  attempt  met  with  great  success,  and,  resign- 
ing his  abbey,  he  devoted   himself  entirely  to  his  new 
^ork,  having  been  made  Vicar  Apostolic  of  that  Territory. 
This  Order  has  also  given  to  the  American  Episcopate  the 
-  Right  Rev.  Louis  M.  Fink,  Vicar  Ajwstolic  of  Kansas, 
and  subsequently  Bishop  of  Leavenworth,  and  Right  Rev! 
Rupert  Seidenbush,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Northern  Minne- 
sota. 

Another  accession  to  the  clergy  was  a  colony  of  Passion- 
ists,  an  Order  of  most  austere  missionary  ])riests  founded 
in  the  last  century  by  Saint  Paul  of  the  Cross.  Tlicse  re- 
ligious, who  'opened  a  Retrofit  at  Pittt^buigh  in  1852, 
have  since  established  houses  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  and 
Hoboken,  N.  J.  Their  zeal  and  ehxiiience  in  missions  in 
all  parts  of  the  country  have  convened  many,  and  revived 
piety  and  devotion  far  and  near. 

In  Ohio  the  self-denying  and  devoted  priest,  Rev.  Fran- 
cis de  Sales  Brunner,  introduced  the  priests  of  the  Most 
Precious  Blood,  a  congregation  founded  by  the  Venera- 
ble Caspar  di  Bufalo.  The  community  has  grown,  and 
has  for  years  rendered  efficient  service  in  the  West',  and 
Sisters  of  the  aame  rule  are  engaged  in  teaching.     Thig 


n 


'\ 


THE  CHURCH   IN  AMERJCA. 


391 


body  of  regulars'  has  given    to    the    hierarchy  Bishop 
Dwenger,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

The  teaching  Orders  developed  greatly.     In  184^  some 
Brothers  of  the  Christian  Schools,  a  community  founded  in' 
France  in  the  seventeenth  century  by  the  Venerable  John 
Baptist  de  la  Salle,  were  invited  to  New  York  by  the  Rev 
AnnetLafont,  pastor  of  the.French  Church,  who  confided 
Ins  schools  to  their  care.     They  produced  so  favorable  an 
inipression  as  teachers  that  they  soon  opened  an  academy 
which  IS  now  Manhattan  College,  with  dependent  institu- 
tions, and  their  services  are  sought  in  many  dioceses,  to 
direct  the  parochial  schools  for  boys. 

The  Brothers  of  Mary  about  the  same  time  began  in  the 
Diocese  of  Cincinnati,  and  have  now  many  schools  under 
their  care.  The  Brothers  of  the  Third  Order  of  St  Fran- 
cis, introduced  at  Pittsburgh  m  1847,  have  also  extended 
to  otiier  dioceses.  ' 

^he  School  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame,  founded  by  the 
Blessed  Peter  Fourrier,  and  revived  in  Germany,  were 
introduced  to  direct  the  parochial  schools  for  girls  in  the 
German  churches  of  Wisconsin;  but  the  care  taken  to  train 
tlie  Sisters  as  teachers  gave  them  a  reputation  far  and 
wide,  and  they  have  spread  over  many  dioceses  to  the  Af-  < 
lantic  coast. 

The  iiigher  education  of  girls  led  to  new  foundations  in 
various  cit.es  of  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart.     Visitation 
Nuns,  Sisters   of  St.  Joseph,  and   the  Benedictine  Nuns 
founded  in  the  Diocese  of  Erie,  liave  academies  and  fre 
schools  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 

In  the  works  of  mercy,  the  Sisters  of  the  Good  Shep- 

ud  multiplied  their  houses;    and  the  Sisters  of  Mercy, 

aitbful  to  their  work  by  visits  to  the  sick  and  poor,  to 

tlieei  ring  and  the  prisoner,  relieve  human  suffering  and 

revive  faith,  too  often  obscured  bv  ignorance  and  passion 

Ihe  country  was  now  divided  into  several  ecclesiastical 


J 


-L  •  J  "    a*- "-I'll    »-H   ll-WIilMHUm 


392 


CIIKIST  IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


It  was  deemed,  liuwover,  important,  in  order  to  secure 
unity  of  discif)liue  as  miicli  as  possible,  to  hold  a  Council 
for  the  whole  country.     This  was  proposed  to  Pope  Pius 
IX.,  who,  on  thei9Lh  of  August,  1851,  authorized  tJie  Most 
Kev.  Francis  P.  Kenrick,  Archbishop  of  Baltimore,  to  con- 
vene it,  appointing  him  Delegate  Apostolic  for  that  purpose. 
This  imposing  assembly  met  on  tiie  8th  of  May,  185::^^ 
in  the  Cathedral  of  Baltimore,  and  was  attended  by  the 
six  Archbishoi)s  of  Baltimore,  Oregon,  St.  Louis,  New  Or- 
leans, New  York,  and  Cincinnati,  and  the  twenty-three 
Bishoi)s  of  Mobile,  Dubuque,  Nashville,  Natchez,  Wheel- 
ing, Galveston,  Pittsburgh,  Little  liock,  Albany,  Charles- 
ton, Boston,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Louisville,  Chicago,  Nes- 
qually,    liiirtford,   Savannah,   Eichmond,  and    St.    Paul; 
the  Bishop  Administrator    of  Detroit,   and    the   Vicars 
Ai)ostolic  of  New  Mexico  and  Lidian  Territory,  as  well 
as  by  the  Bishop  of  Monterey,  who  was  subject  directly  to 
the  Holy  See.     Among  these  were   the  gre.it  tl.oologian 
Archbishop  Kenrick,  Archbishop  Hughes,  Bisliop  Spald- 
ing, of  Louisville,  Bisho])  O'Connor,  and  the  future  Car- 
dinal, then  Bishop  McCloskojf.     There  were  also  i)rosent 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Mary  of  La  tnippe,  the  Commissary  (>mj- 
eru]  of  the  Augustinians,  th^  Visitor  General  of  the  Do- 
minicans, the  Superior  of  the  Benedictines,  the  Superior 
of  the  Franciscans,  arid,  representing  the  four  divisions  of 
the  Society  of  Jesus  laboring  in  the  country,  the  Provin- 
cial of  Maryland,  the  Vice  Provincial  of  Missouri,  and  the 
Superiors  of  New  York  and  New  Orleans  ;  the  Provincial 
of  the  Kedemptorists,  th(?  Kector  of  the  Sulpitian  semi- 
nary, and  a -Superior  of  the  Priests  of  tlie  Mission. 

In  their  decrees,  the  Fathers  of  th>^ounciI  recognized 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff  as  the  head  of  tli^  Church,  the  suc- 
cessor of  St.  Peter,  arid  the  father  and  doctor  of  all  Chris- 
tiana, with  full  power  from  Christ  to  feed,  rule,  and  gov- 
ern the  whole  Church. 

Among  tliG  important  steps. advised  were  the  establish- 


f 


THE   CHURCH    IN   AMERICA. 


393 


ment  of  a  Chancery  in  each  diocese,  for  the  more  Orderly 
transaction  of  ecclesiastical  business,  and  the  preservati^i 
of  archives;  the  appointment  of  a  Council  in  each  dio- 
cese, to  aid  the  Bishop  ;  a  strict  revision  of  prayer-books  ; 
the  laying  off  of  parochial  districts,  the  publication  of  banns,' 
the  establishment  of  sciiools,  and  of  a  seminary  at  least  for 
each  province,  and  the  extension  of  the  Association  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Faith. 

The  Holy  See  approved  the  decree^'  of  the  Council,  and, 
at  Its  request,  erected  now  sees  at  Portland— Maine  (ind 
New  Hampshire  forming  the  diocese ;  at  •Burlington  for 
Vermont;  at    Brooklyn  for 
LonglsRind;  at  Newark  for 
New  Jersey;    at  Covington 
in  Kentucky;  at  Quincy  in 
Illinois  ;  at  Natchito(;hes  in 
Louisiana ;   at  Santa   Fe  in 
New   Mexico ;    and   at  San 
Francisco -in   California,  of- 
which  Dr.  Alemany,  of  Mon- 
terey,   became    Archbishop. 
.lTj)per  Michigan   became   a 
Vicariate    Apostolic,    under 
the    zealous     and     devoted 
Indian     missionary.     Right 
Rev.  Frederic  Barnga. 

The  Bishop  of  Burlington,  Right  R^v.  Louis  Counl  de 
-Goesbriand  ;  the  Bishop  of  Newark,  Right  Rev.  James 
Roosevelt  Bayley,  a  nephew  of  Mother  Seton,  foundress 
of  the  Sisters  of  Charity;  and  the  Right  Rev,  John  Longh- 
lin.  Bishop  of  Brooklyn— were  con«ecrated  in  the  Cti- 
thedral  at  New  York  on  the  30th  October,  1853,  by  the 
Most  Rev.  Cajetan  Bedim,  Archbishop  of  Thebes  and 
Nuncio  of  Pope  Pius  IX, 

The  Apostolic  Baraga  was  subsequently  mad^Bishop 
of  Sault  Stc.  Marie  and  Marguette^and  devQted  his  wbololifo- 


Right  Rev.  Frederic  Baraga. 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


395 


< 


'7, 

o 

H 
to 


< 

Pi 
< 

X) 


m 


to  his  flock,  visiting  assiduously  the  scattered  Indian  sta- 
tions, laboring  by  word  and  pen  to  instruct  his  flock.  • 

Pope  Pius  IX.  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  growth 
of  tlie  Church  in  the  United  States,  and,  to  secure  it  a 
supply  of  thoroughly  trained  priests,  proposed  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  American  College  at  Rome,  where  clergy- 
men  could   reside   and  attend  the   courses  in  the  great 
theological  schools  there,  and  become  familiar  with   the 
management  of  ecclesiastical  affairs  and  the  solemn  rites 
of  the  Ciiurch,  as  nsed  in  the  cai)ital  of  Christendom.     He 
gave  a  house  for  the  purpose,  and  the  hierarchy  of  the 
United  States  co-operated  in  founding  tlie  college.     It  has 
rendered  great  .service  to  the  Church,  but  unfortunately 
has    not    attracted    the    attention   of   wealthy  American 
Catholics,    whose   donations    and   legacies  long  ere   this 
should  have  endowed  itwith  mcnns  to  enable  it  to  increase 
Its  usefulness  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  country. 

The  illustrious  Pope  showed  his  interest  in  America 
also  by  sending  a  Nuncio  to  the  United  States.  Our  gov- 
ernment some  years  jireviously  had  sent  an  Ambassador  to 
Rome,  apparently  without  any  knowledge  of  the  long  estab- 
lished system  of  diplomatic  intercourse  between  the  Popes 
and  foreign  powers.  No  intimation  was  given  to  the  Holy 
See  of  any  wish  on  the  i)art  of  the  American  government 
to  derogate  from  the  custom  of  centuries.  The  Sovereign 
Pontiff  did  not  at  once  send  a  Nuncio  to  this  countiT, 
but  in  1852  he  despatched  Mgr.  Cajetan  feedini,  Arch- 
I)ishop  of  Thebes,'  a  prelate  of  great  ability,  learning,  and 
niii<lnoss,  as  Nuncio  to  Brazil,  and  intrusted  him  with  a 
letter  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  so  as  gradually 
to  open  official  intercourse. 

At  this  moment  an  anti-Catholic  excitement  had  again 
arisen  in  the  United  States.  An  organization  known  as 
the  Order  of  United  Americans  had  spread  over  the  coun- 
try, the  object  of  which  was  to  exclude  'Catholics  from 
"ffijgi  business,  and  as  fai-  as  possible  f rem  all- ci vil^rigbfee.^ 


■1     f: 


396 


CHRIST  IN  HIS   CHURCH. 


T 

The  party  of  which  this  society  was  the  nucleus  was  popu- 
larly called  the  Know-Nothings.      Gavazzi,  an  apostate 
priest  from  Italy,  gathered  crowds  to  hear  his  denuncia- 
tions of  the  Cliurch.     A  fanatic  named- Orr,  who  called 
himself  the  Angel  Gabriel,  went  from  place  to  place  excit- 
ing the  mob   to  .violence   by  incendiary  appeals.      The 
arrival  of  Mgr.  Bedini  gave  fresh  impulse  to  the  intolerant 
spirit,  and  the  great  German  infidel  element  "in  the  coun- 
try, with  similar  refugees  from  other  parts  of  Europe,  whose 
great  object  was  the  overthrow  of  the  Papal  power  in  Rome, 
gave  all  their  aid.      Mgr.  Bedini  had  been  Governor  of 
Bologna  when  that  city  was  occupied  by  the  Austrians,  who 
arrested  antlshot  scvend  revolutionists,  including  a  priest 
named  Bassi.     All  these  executions  were  now  ascribed  to 
Mgr.  Bedini  as  his  work^  although  he  was  utterly  power- 
less and   had  taken  no  part  in   the  affair.     A  plot  was 
formed  to  assassilnite  the  Nuncio,  and  though  he  escaped 
by  a  timely  warning,    his  informant  wa^  poniarded   in 
the  streets  of  New  York,  and   the  authorities  dared  not 
investigate  the  affair.     As  the  Nuncio  visited  other  cities 
he  was  mobbed,  especially  at  Pittsburgh  and  Cincinnati. 
At  WasKington  thequostion  of  his  reception  led  to  most 
pitiable  equivocation,  and  they.finally  took  the  ground  that 
under  our  Constitution  a  Nuncio  could  not.be  received, 
but  that  a  simple  Ambassador  would  be,  although  from' 
the  outset  they  knew  that  the  Popes  never  sent  any. 
,     All  this  fed  the  anti-Catholic  excitement,  which  soon 
culminated  in  acts  of  violence.    \s  usual  the  cry  was  raised 
that  Catholics  wish  to  drive  the  Bible  out  of  the  commoa 
schools,  and  meanwhile  they  forced  Catholic  pupils  in  the 
schools  to  take  part  in  the  reading  of  tjie  Protestant  Bible   ' 
and  the  offering  of  Protestant  prayers.     In  their  blindness 
they  accused  of  intolerance  thosfe  who  merely  protested 
against  their  intolerance.      In   the  spring   of  1854  the 
Catholics  afEllsworth,  Maine,  finding  the  position 'intol- 
erable, by  the  advice  of  their  pastor,  Rjf.  John  Bapst,  S.  J., 


Tlli:   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


397 


V, 


petitioned  that  their  children,  should  be  exempted  fr6m 
attendance  at  this  ]^rt  of  the  school  exercises,  and,  when 
It  was  refused,  appliea%tlie  courts^for  redress.     On  this  a 
town-meeting  was  held^nd  a,  resolution  passed  by  that 
body  to  tar  and  feather  Father  Bapst  oniiis  next  visTt  to 
the  town.     In  pursuance  of  this,  when  the  Catholic  priest 
arrived  on  the  14th  of  October  to  celebrate  MasB,  the  nex.t 
day  he  was  seized,  stripped  naked,  vilely  abused,  ridaen 
on  a  rail,  and  covered  with  tar  and  featliers,  amid  the  most 
blasaliemous  imprecations.      When  ,the   town  authorities 
had  wreaked  their  vengeance  on  him  for  two  holh-s,  these  ' 
officmlsleft  him  after  midnight  in  the  mftddy  rold,  todAg 
himself  as  best^re-Hiight  to  the  house  where  he  usuall^ 
stayed.     The   heroic   priest   reached '  it- at   last,  in   most 
-intenie  suffering,  and  removed  the  evidences  of  the  out- 
rage as  far  as  he  could;  then,  without  the  slightest  refresh^ 
ment,  went  up  to  the  altar,  with  his  bruised  and  lacerated^ 
body,  to  offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice  for  his  little  flock.^ 

A  gramj  jury  met,  took  the  oath  to  present  all  offend- 
ers, but  Gou^ld  find  no  evidence  of  any  injury  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Bapst.  No  one  was  indicted  for  the  outrage,  or  for  the 
theft  of  hisAvatch  and  purse.     ' 

•Indignant  protests  came  from  many  Ptafcqstants  at  this 
fearful  act,  but  tlfe  "NjUive  American"  p^irty  gained 
adhe'i;ents  and  carried  elections  in  many  States,  especially 
in  Few  Hampshire,  a  State  jvhere  even  now  i'atholics  are 
ex;cluded  from  of!i(»e.  "^ 

Other .  cases  of  violence  hlvd  occurred  in  that  State. 
In  July  a  mob  held  iwssession  of  Malichester  for  tkfo  days, 
wrecked  the  houses- of  m  my|>atholics,  and  actually  tore 
the  church  to  pieces,  destroying  it  from  top  to  bottom. 
At  Dorchester  in  the  same  State  the  Catholic  church  wms 
undermined  and  blown, up  with  gunpowder.  At  Bath  in 
Maine  a  mob,  led  by  Orr,  burst  in  the  churcW  doors,  tore 
down  the  altar  aijd  pulpit,  and  placing  on  the  pile  the  cross 
"^J^'^  i^^P^' j,^^ ^^fi^^^jLfflJ  reduced  the  edifirp  jn  ashes. 


y 


J 


CHRIST   IN   HI«    CHURCH. 


A  . 


The  fierce  hatred  had  uot  died  out  u  year  later,  for  wfee^  * 
Bishop  Bacon  attoxiipted.  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  a  new 
Chnrch,  a  mob  took  possess!  ••n    and  prevented  the  qere- 
niony.  ,       , 

In  bei)tember  an  armed  i)rocessron  paraded  the  streets 
of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  demolished  a  German  Catholic 
church.       Two  mouths  later-  a   mob  attacked   a   church 
in    Williamsburg,    N.   Y.,    itnd,    after    wrecking   it   com- 
pletely, set  it  afire,   but   the   miliui^'y  arrived  in  time   to 
save  it.      Even  jis  far  South  as  Mobile  the  s])irit  spread;  a, 
priest  was  beaten,  and  threatened  with  further  violence,  if       ^ 
he  did  not  stop  visiting  a  neighbi)ring  village  to  say  Mass. 
•    Even  legislative  bodies  felt  the  influeuGc.     New  York  , 
-passed  laws  to  prevent  be(i\icsts  to  Catholic  institutions, 
and  to  vest  in  trustees  elected  by  the  congregations,  all 
property  held  by  the  bishops,  even  where  they  had  bought 
it  as  iiwiividuals  at  public  sale,  ordered  by  the  court  on  the 
bankruptcy  of  tlio  trustees.  'A^. 

Th'c_ Legislature  of  MassaclinSetts,  which  numbered  sev-  '^ 
eral  niimsters,  appointed  a  committee  to  investigate  the 
condition  of  the  Catholic  convents;  and  in  that  of  Notre  ' 
Dame,  E!<;)xbury,  those  legislators  of  the  })roudest  State  in 
the  Union  acted  as  the  lowest  and  most  degraded  ruffians. 
In  fact,  the  conduct  of  one  mclnber  in  his  travels  was  in 
mc\\  defiance  of  all  decency  that  the  Legislature  expelled    ' 

ili.'       :  ■    •  4-   '      '  ■         i        " 

^The  most  fearful  scenes  of  bloodslfcd  were  eni 
Louisville  in  August,  1855,  wh^an  attempt  was*^ 
burn  the  Cathedral,  and  numbeVs  of  houses  of,| 
were  fired  and  destroyed,  and  more  th.ln  twenty  o1 
mates  were  burned  alive  or  shot  down  by  the  mob. 

tthis  violence  tvas  of  no  avail.   Catholicity  grew  in 

jch^oiltrages  and  injustice,  whether  from  the 

lob.  ,  . 

in  tl:^lJnited  States  at  this  time  num- 

I'wo  milliW^*and  a  half,  but  were  almost  en- 


le  in- 


■BBBBBB 


% 


THE   CnURCU  ITf   AMifeRIOA. 


/ 

399 


'  tir^y  unrepresented  in  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  and 
in  Congress.  It  was  almost  impossible  for  a  OuthoHc  to 
be  elected  to  any  position  of  influence.  Neither  of  the 
I)olitieal  parties  would  nominate  a  Catholic,  tlie  bigoted 

J^pj^si.tion  being  such  that  tliousands  would  vote  against 

•  j'^'^fS^^"  ^'^''^^  ^''^^^^'"  ^^''''''  ^'''"^ ""  ^""^^  ^°  ^  Catliolic;  and 
«n***'T^^        prevails  to  no  slight  extent  oven  to  this  day. 

In  ah  this  storm  against  the  Church,  the  press,  too,. 
&i4ed  generally  against  it,  pi^ndering  to  the  bigotry  of  tho 

musscSjHnd  reluctantly  ^ 
giving  place  to  any  de- 
fence of  Cathdiicsr 

'fhc    advocacy    (if 
their  cause  in  a  way  to 
reach  the  better  class  of 
mind^  in  the  country, 
devolved    orr  a    few, 
whose  recognised  abil- 
ity, intellect,  and  O'lo- 
quence  commanded  a 
hearing.   Among thcsO 
prominently  stood  the 
great    Archbish op  -^  o £ 
New  York,  the  Most 
Rev.    John    Hughes, 
whcfse  courageous 
words,  fnll  of  manli- 
ness, vigor,  and  truth, 
came  with  rrushing  power  on  the  insincei'e  who  perverted 
truth  and  reason  to  assail  up.     No  Catholic  writer  in  the 
countrv  was  ever  so  widely  rend ;  and,  as  his  merciless  logic 
left  little  chance  for  even  such  a  plausible  ans\^er  as  would 
satisfy  people  of  avcrnge  education,  his  influence  was  niost 
beneficial.     During  both  anti  -Catholic  movements  his  writ- 
ings had  been  timely  and  effective.     His  letter  to  James. 
Harper,  the  y^tivc  Am  cricaH  Mayor  otjlLYQik,  hn  t.hp 


Most  Rev.  John  Hughes,  D.D.        V.^ 


f  i 


I 


m 


400 


<!"'  .   ^  --J^-, 


cpRisT  m  ma  church. 


.'  evil  spirrt"'&f  the  times^  his  crushing  of  Stone,  Bennett, 
Hale,  and  other  assailants  of  the  Church  ;'  his  letter  to  Hon. 
Lewis  Cass  on  the  affair  of  the  Madiai  ;  his  controversy  with 
Senator  Brookes  on  the  Church  Property  bill— all  tended  to 
•  give  the  public  mind  a  fair  view  of  the  position  held  by  those 
whom  he  represented.  The  Protestant  public  looked  to 
Bishop  Hughes  as  the  gre'at  exponent  of  Catholic  thought, 
.  imi)res8ed.  by  his  honesty,  uprightness,  and  disinterested- 
ness; for  he  never  sought  the  great  influence  he  acquired,  and 
never  employed  it  for  aay  ends  but  those  of  truth  and  justice. 
In  his  own  diocese  his  views  were  grand,  looking  to  the 
future  with  sanguine  hope.  He  wished  to  endow  it  .with 
all  necessary  institutions  of  learning,  secular  and- theolog- 
ical; with  every  institution  for  the  exercise  of  the  works  of 
mercy:  he  wished  to  give  dignity  to  the  divine  worship 
and  all  the  services  of  the  Church,  that  every  Catholic 
might  feel  a  pride  in  being  a  .child  of  such  a  motlier.     In 

^  this  view  he  laid,  in  1858,  the  corner-stone  of  k  new  Cathe- 

dral in  New  York  on  the  site  of  the  college  occupied  by  the 

i\  Jesuits  nearly  half  a  century  before,  but  which  the  growing 

%  city  hdd  encircled.     This  edifice,  the  noblest  in  its  design 

and  proportions  yet  seen  on  the  Continent,  was  completed 
by  his  successor,  Cardinal  McCloSkey,  and  dedicated,  with 
a  pomp  never  before  w'itnessed  in  tlhe'United  States,  on  the 
25th  of  May,  1879. 

I  '         In  the  West,  Bishop  'Spalding,  of  Louisville,  who  had 

impressed  Rome  with  the  depth  an^,^undness  of  his  the- 
ological learning,  showed  also  the  ability  to  reach  the  pop- 
■    ^  ular  mind  in  America  on  Catholic  (juestions.     Typically 

American  in  thought  and  manner,  his  sincere  manliness, 
mental  vigor,  and  honesty  told  irresistibly,  and  prepared 
all  for  the  influence  which  he  exerted  in  America,  and 
which  hedia])layed  in  the  Vatican  Council  after  his  eleva- 
tion to  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Baltimore. 


^ 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Services  of  the  Clergy  and  Orders  in  Yellow-Fever  Times— The 
Franciscans  in  the  United  States— Position  of  the  Church  in  1861 
—The  Civil  War— Priests  and  Sisters  on  the  Battle-field  and  in 
Hospitals— A  Benedictine  killed  in  his  Good  Work— The 
Church's  Losses— Treatment  of  Bishop  Elderr-The  Second 
Plenary  Council— Work  among  the  Negroes— Grd^t  Progress  in 
North  Carolina— Georgia— New  Dioceses  in  Texas^Indian 
Territory  a  Prefecture— Revival  of  Anti-Catholic  Feeling- 
Bigotry  on  the  Bench— Catholic  School  Books— Missions  by  the 
Redemptorists  and  Others— Diffusion  "of  Catholic  Books  and 
Periodicals— Theological  Seminary- The  Yellow  Fever  in  1878 
—The  Indian  Missions— An  American  Cardinal- His  Eminence 
John,  Cardinal  McCloskey,  Archbishop  of  New  York. 

In  the  lull  that  followed  the  Kuow-Nothing  madness, 
the  Church  kept  oii:|ts  course,  and,  even  amid  that  excite- 
ment, she  gave  a  lesson  more  potent  than  words.  While 
fanatics  were  destroying  Catholic  churches  in  the  'North, 
the  people  saw  with  admiration  the  zeal  of  the  clergy  and 
religious  at  Savannah,  then  ravaged  by  yellow-fever 
They  cheerfully  Jittended  the  sick  to  the  last,  the  Bishop' 
Right  Rev.  F.,^>Gartland,  with  an..ther  prelate.  Bishop 
Barron,  and  two'Sisters  of  Mercy  dying  of  tiie  pestilence 

Undeterred  by  the  hostility  they  might  encounter,  a 
colony  of  Reformed  Franciscans,  under  the  Very  Rev. 
Pajnphilo  da  Magliano,  came  frofhi  Italy  in  1855  to  found 
ahousoof  their  order  at  Ellicottsville,  N.  Y.,and,  entering 
fervently  into  the  mission  work,  soon  establislied  a  college 
and  seminary,  and  directed  churches  in  various  parts  of 
Aevf  York  and  Connecticut.  Other  communities  of  the 
same  Order  from  Germany  founded  flourishing  convents 
in  Ohio  and  Indiana;  the  oldest,  however,  being  those  in 
California,  which  date  back  to.  the  settlement  of  that 
colony. -^ — r— 


^"1 

^ 


^  /' 


402 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  in  the  United  States  in 
1861,  tlie  Church,  which  in  1808  had  in  tliat  territory  two 
dioceses,  two  bisho})?,  and  less  than  a  hundred  churches 
and  priests,  had  increased  so  as  to  form  seven  ecclesiastical 
provinces,  forty-three  <^ocescs,  three  vicariates  apostolic, 
with  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  priests, 
who  attended  nearly  twenty-four  hundred  churches  and 
twelve  hundred  stations  and  chapels.  The  number  of  the 
faithful  Was  more  than  three  millions,  and  their  spiritual 
wants  were  muclv  better  sup[)lied.  There  were  eighty- 
nine  colleges  and  male  academies,  and  two  hundred  and 
two  institutions  for  the  higher  education  of  girls.  The 
parish  schools  were  rapidly  advancing  in  numbers  and  pro- 
ticiency,  and  numbered  nearly  five  hundred,  with  a  hun- 
dred thousand  pupils.  More  than  a  hundred  orphan 
asylums  were  dotted  over  the  country;  there  were  twenty- 
live  Catholic  hospitals,  five  Magdalen  asylums,  many 
widows'  homes,  industrial  schools,  and  other  institution's  of 
a  charitable  character. 

The  great  nuiss  of  the  population  lay  in  the  Northern 
aiul  Western  States,  those  south  of  Maryland  on  the  east 
and  of  tlie  Ohio  river  on  the  west  containing  only  four 
hi'uulred  aiui  sixty-three  out  of  the  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  pr'ests. 

A  terrible'eivil  war  broke  out  at  this  time.  A  fanatical 
spirit  at  the  North,  which  from  time  to  time  excited  hos- 
tility to  the  Church  on  other  occasions,  sought  the  aboli- 
tion, or  at  least  the  restriction,  of  slavery  in  the  South. 
Numbers  of  Protestant  clergymen  took  an  active  j)art  in 
stirring  up  a  bitter  sectional  feeling;  and  when  troubles 
began  in  regard  to  the  extension  of  slavery  in  Kansas,  the 
Protestant  ])ulpits  of  the  East  rang  witli  appeals  to  their 
flo(!k8.  In  this  matter  the  Catliolics  stood  aloof.  When 
the  war  came  no  one  could  accuse  them  of  having  done 
auglit  to  precipitate  it.  Yet.  as  wo  have  seen,  they  were 
chietly  iiijjie  Northern  States  which  invitiui  immi|rniMon^ 


•   JsJ 


THE  CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


403 


while  the  South  discouraged  it,  and  ignorant  prejudice 
against  the  Church  prevailed  as  much  at  the  South  as  at 
the  North. 

The  South  acted  with  energy,  not  only  in  the  field,  but 


lliiliIIM!lliiiiiniiillill 


Coitsoiing  the    Dying. 

by  securing  synipatliy  from  the  govornmentH  of  Kurojw. 
To  counteract  this  the  (Jovcrnincnt  nought  the  aid  of  a 
Catholic  prolate.  At  tlie  request  of  the  President,  Aicii- 
bishop  Hughes  visited  Europe,  and  hihored  there  to  secure 
the  great  object— the  restoration  of  peace  and  union  in  the 


«tmntry.     Whm  the  wnr  wpTTt  mr  and  larg^e  afmtes  were 


404 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


culled  into  the  field,  thereja^ere-thousands  of  Catholics  in 
the  ranks,  and  Catholic/chaplair\g  and  Sisters  did  , their 
duty  nobly  on  the  battle-field  and  in  the  hospitals,  where  so 
many  lay  in  suffering  and  pain.  One  Benedictine  Father, 
Dom  Emeran  Bliimel,  lost  his  life  on  the  battle-field  of 
Jonesborough  while  attending  the  dying;  and  many  i)riests 
and  religious  brought  back  the  seeds  of  death  from  the 
scene  of  their  labors.  These  sacrifices  wel-e  not  in  vain: 
Men  from  parts  of  the  country  where  the  Cliurch  was 
known  only  by  vague  rumors  as  of  some  monstrous  thing, 
looked  with  wonder  at  the  devoted  priest  or  sister;  and 
when  warned  to  prepare  for  death  asked  the  aid  of  those 
who  came  nearest  to  their  highest  ideal  of  the  Christian 
ministry,  and  died  with  the  prayer  of  Catholic  faith  on 
their  lips. 

The  war  was  disastrous  to  the  South.  Nearly  all,  the 
battles  were  fought  in  the  Southern  States;  and,  as  the 
Northern  armies  advanced,  the  officers  frequently  could 
not  repress,  or  encouraged,  the  destruction  of  Catholic 
cliurch  property.  St.  Finbar's  Cathedral,  with  the 
bishop's  house,  in  Cliarleston,  and  its  valuable  library, 
l)erished  in  the  bombardment.  Sherman's  destruction  of 
Columbia  swept  away  St.  Mary's  College,  the  convent  of 
the  Sisters  of  Mcr(;y,  and  that  of  the  Ursulines.  In 
Georgia,  St.  Mary's,  in  Camden  County,  and  the  church  at 
Dalton  perished;  in  Fh)rida,  Jacksonville  and  Pensacola 
saw  the  Catholic  churches  destroyed,  and  that  at  War- 
rington perished  during  the  bombardment.  In  various 
l)laces  churches  were  taken  as  hospitals  or  fol'  other  mili- 
tary purposes,  and  left  utterly  unfit  for  use. 

Besides  this  many  communities  abandoned  their  insti- 
tutions, uinible  to  struggle  against  adversity.  Schools  were 
broken  uj)  and  works  of  mercy  forgotten. 

In  the  progress  of  the  war  the  fanatical  anti-Catholic 
spirit  began  to  manifest  it.self  in  various  wavs.  Oaths 
were   imposed   which   Catholic  clcrgymeu- could   not  4fl^ 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


406 


conscience  take,  and  those  who  refused  were  subjected  to 
various  annoyances  and  ptttyijcrsecutions.    This  was  espe- 
cially the  case  in  Kentucicy.     The  grossest  violation  of  law, 
no  less  than  of  the  wliole  spirit  of  American  institutions, 
.  was  displayed  krlEississippi,  .where  Colonel  Farrar,  post 
commandant,  issued  an  order  requiring  all  clergymen  in 
their  public  worship  to  offer  a  prayer  for  the  President  of 
the  United  States.     Against  this  Bishop  Elder,  of  Natchez, 
remonstrated,  taking  the  broad  ground  that  as  Congress 
could  make  no  law  establishing  or  regulating  religion,  no 
official  could  do  what  Congress  could  not  do,  and  that  no 
official  could  require  the  Catholic  Church  to  alter  her 
liturgy  and  introduce  or  omit  prayers  to  suit  his  fancy. 

Bishop  Elder  had  been  unremitting  in  his  attention  to 
the  sick' and  wounded  on  the  battle.field  and  in  the  hospi- 
tal, and  one  of  his  scanty  band  of  priests  had  died  in  his 
zealous  mission.  In  spite  of  this,  the  Bishop  was  arrested 
and  curried  to  Vidalia,  in  the  State  of  Louisiana.  He  was 
there  detained  till  General  Brayman,  to  whom  the  case 
was  carried,  revoked  the  illegal  order,  but  in  terms  insult- 
ing to  the  Bishop. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  stops  were  taken  ' 
for  convening  another  Plenary  Council  at  Baltimore.  It 
mot  on  the  7th  of  October,  18GG.  Besides  Archbishop 
Spalding,  who  presided  as  Apostolic  Delegate,  there  were 
])resont  the  six  Archbishops  of  Oregon,  St.  Louis,  Cincin- 
nati, San  Francisco,  New  Orleans,  and  ^vw  York,  and 
thirty-seven  Bishops,  besides  tlirec  Mitred  Abbots,  thcj  local^ 
Superiors  of  tliirtoon  rujjgious  Orders,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  Theologians.  Ai  this  Council  it  was  resolved  to 
treat  the  whole  subject  ^t  doctrine  and  discipline,  so  as  to 
make  the  decrees  a  manual  on  all  important  questions. 
Eacli  topic  was  lon<i 
Council  met.  The  decre 
couched  in  pure,  clear 


4^ 


406 


CHRIST   IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


of  every  iiort  of  knowledge  necessary  for  an  ecclesiasMc ; 
and  at  the  Council  of  the  Vatican,  where  the  bishops  of 
the  whole  world  assembled,  these  decrees  were  in  the  hands 
of  many  of  the  Fathers. 

In  the  Southern  States  the  emancipation  of  the  negroes 
opened  that  race  as  a  field  for  Catholic  zeal ;  not  only  did 
the  priests  at  various  points  labor  to  explain  to  them  the 
pure  truths  of  the  Gospel,  but  a  number  of  clergymen 
came  from  Engli^nd  to  devote  themselves  especially  to  this 

neglected  race.  They  belong- 
ed to  St.  Joseph's  Society  for 
Foreign  Missions. 

The  war  left  Catholic  af- 
fairs in  the  Southern  States  in 
a  most  desolate  condition,  and 
the  succeeding  years  of  mis- 
rule prevented  any  immediate  - 
improvement.  Emigrants  . 
shujined  States  where  nothing 
was  safe,  and  the  general  in- 
flation, with  the  financial  dis- 
tress that  followed,  increased 
their  difficulties.  This  ap- 
pealed to  Catholic  charity 
everywhere,  and  Archbishop 
Spalding  of  Baltimore  exerted  himself  earnestly  to  relieve 
them  amid  tlfeir  trials. 

Yet  Catholicity  began  to  look  hopefully  forward  in  a 
quarter  that  sefemed  to  promise  least.  On  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Right  Rev.  James  Gibbon*  as  Vicar  Ajjostolie  of 
North  Carolina,  attention  was  drawn  to  the  claims  of  the 
Church.  The  Bishop,  devoting  himsflf  entirely  to  ex- 
tending Catholicity  in  the  State,  })rosentcd  its  doctrines 
and  practices  in  so  clear  a  light  that  numbers,  aided  by 
God's  grace,  opened    theirfhcarts  to  the  faith,  and  con- 

.gregation s  iif  con vcrij-  wore  formed, in  gcvcnd  places  4n 

that- State,  which  seemed  impenctrablo  to  the  truth 


Most  Bev>  James  Olbbons,  D.D. 


y 


THE   OIIirKC'lI    IN   AMERICA. 


407 


In  Georgia,  under  Bishops  Verot,  Persico,  and  Gross,  the 
Church  began  to  recover,  and  a  body  of  French  Bene- 
dictines began  a  mission  in  the  Isle  of  Hope,  laboring 
especially  among  the  colored  people.  The  superi6r,  Dom 
^Gabriel  Bergier,  and  some  of  his  associates  died  of  yellow- 
fever  in  1875,  amid  their  labors,  but  the  good  work  was 
not  abandoned.  The  Abbot  of  St.  Vincent's,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania,  resolved  to  carry  on  the  good  work,  and  Father 
Oswald  Moosmuller,  a  man  of  learning  and  research,  re- 
nounced his  studies' to  devote  himself  to  the  service  of 'this 
benighted  people.     '         ' 

Texas  recovered  more  rapidly  from  the  prostration 
caused  by  the  war,  and  received  a  steadily  increasing  im- 
migration, chiefly  German  and  Polish.  The  Mexican  popu- 
lation also  grew.  On  the  3d  of  September,  1874,  Pope 
Pius  IX.  divided  the  Diocese  of  Galveston,  which  now  had 
a  Catholic  population  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  million,  with 
two  hundred  and  fifty  churches  and  chapels  scattered  over 
the  vast  territory.  A  new  see  was  erected  at  San  Antonio, 
and  the  zealous  Bishop  Pellicer  was  soon  giving  a  new  im- 
pulse to  the  faith  and  laboring  to  supply  the  spiritual 
Wimts  of  his  flock.  On  his  death,  in  1880,  his  diocese  had 
gained  greatly  in  numbers  and  Catholic  spirit.      . 

The  district  along  the  Rio  Grande,  with  a  large  Mexican 
population  in  scattered  ranches,  among  whom  it  was 
necessary  to  revive  the  faith  and  especially  the  practice 
of  Christian  duties,  became  tlm  Vicariate  Apostolic  of 
Brownsville,  where  Bishop  Manucy,  struggling  with  pecu- 
liar difflculties,  labored  for  years  Avith  consoling  results. 

The  Indian  Territory  west  of  the  State  of  Arkansas 
also  invited  the  zeal  of  the  Fathers  of  St.  Benedict,  and 
Dom  Isidore  Robot  began  a  mission  there.  Catholic  In- 
dians had  been  transported  to  that,  territory  by  Govern- 
ment, and  were  destitute  of  clergynuMi;  there  were  scattered 
Catholics  in  several  tribes;  andj^  band  of  Si)anish  Catholic 
lTidTrmsTroW1'ToTKrinv(M'oTo/r)^reSni^ 
duties.      Ere  long,  in,187G,  Dom  Robot  was  made  Prefect 


♦      408 


CHRIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


Apostolic  of  Indian  Territory,  and  Ins  monastery  became 
the  Abbey  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  ,  The  Diocese  of  Little 
Kock,  on  which  the  Territory-had  depended,  began  to  in- 
crease at  last  by  immigration. 

Throughout  the  Northern  States  there  had  been  general 
progress,  but  the  close  of  the  war  was  a  signal  for  the  re- 
vival of  old  bitterness  against  the  ChurcJi.     An  attempt 
was  made  to  make  the  school  question  not  a  State  but  a 
national   matter.      General   Grant,   elected   President  in 
1869,  showed  a  disposition  to  unite  with  the  old  Know- 
Nothing  party,  and  on  several  occasions  alluded  to  the 
school  question,  taking  ground,  however,  in  favor  of  abso- 
lutely godless  schools.       Tlie  question   of  the  right  of 
bigoted ^-otestants  to  force  their  erroneous  and  mutilated 
translation  into  sciiools  as  being  the  Bible,  came  before  the 
courts  in  Ohio;  but  the  judiciary  there,  as  in  Massachu- 
setts.  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania,  listened  to  prejudice 
and,  when  Catholic  cases  came  up,  sought  to  warp  the 
law  so  as  to  annoy  the  Church.     Thus,  in  Massachusetts,  a 
priest  was.  cast  in  heavy  damages  for  cautioning  his  flock 
against  those  who  favored  assailants  of  Catholicity  wliile 
pretending  to  be  Catholics;  in  Pennsylvania,  a  judge  de- 
clared that  a  priest  who  refused  to  give  to  iiis  bishop  any 
account  of  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  his  church 
could  not  be  removed,  but  had  a  legal  right  to  the  posses- 
sion of  the  church  and  the  receipt  of  the  pew-rents;  in 
New  lork,  a  judge  decided  that  a  Protestant  and  Free- 
mason had  a  right  to  be  interred  in  a  lot  he  had  bought 
for  his  Catholic  wife  and  children.     Iliglier  courts  set  asi.lo 
such  law,  but  the  spirit  of  hostility  was  made  painfullv 
apparent. 

These  signs  induced  new  and  greater  exertion  to  expand 
our  system  of  ])arochial  schools,  so  as  to  avoid  any  neces- 
sity for  Catholics  to  send  their  children  to  the  public 
schools,  which  it  was  evident  must  soon  he  eitlier  abso- 
lutely Protestant, or  utterly  infidel.      New  schools  were    ■ 


THE,  CHURCH    IN   AMERICA; 


409 


■  established  in  many  parts,  notably  in  New  England,  where 
the  parochial  system  had  made  little  progress.  The  teach- 
ing Orders  already  in  the  country  spread,  and  were  aided 
by  others  from  abroad,  like  the  Presentation  N'uns,  the 
Sisters  of  the  Holy  Child  Jesus,  the  Sisters  of  Chris- 
tian Charity.  The  preparation  of  suitable  school-booka 
received  greater  care,  and  npt  only  Readers,  but  series  of 
•  Geographies  and  School  Histories' were  prepared  equal  to 
any  i)ublished  for  use  in  the  public  schools.  Some  of 
these  were  mere  modifications  of  Protestant  works,  but 
others  were  intrinsically  Catholic. 

Among  tlie  means  of  elevating  the  tone  of  Catholic 
religious  feeling,  and  increasing  the  general  frequeutation 
I  of  the  sacraments,  was  the  system  of  missions.     One  of 
the  great  propagators  of  this  was  the  Count  de  Forbin 
Janson,  who  spent  some  years  in  Canada  and  the  United 
States.     In  this  country  the  good  work  was  taken  up  seri-' 
ously  by. the  Redcmptorists,  first  among  the  German  pop- 
ulation, and  in  time  among  those  speaking  English  ;  the 
Jesui4  Fathers,  as  well  Ji^  the  Passionists,  Paulists,  and  Do- 
minicans, Oblates  and  Priests  oi  the  Holy  Cross  and  of  the 
Precious  Blood,  all  joining  iiAhe  good  work.     There  are 
now  few  parishes  in  the  country  where  a  mission  is  not 
given  once  in  five  years,  and  at  such  times  not  many  are 
deaf  to  the  call  of  religion.    Hundreds  return  to  the  practices 
of  religion;  domestic  piety  revives;  good  books  are  read; 
the  children  instructed;   Protestants  whose  doubts  have 
been  excited  come  to  listen  and  be  convinced. 

The  permanent  good  is  shown  by  the  great  diffusion  of 
works  of  piety,  books  of  meditation,  the  spiritual  works  of 
Father  Faber,  translations  of  the  best  ascetical  works  jn 
French,  German,  Italian,  and  other  languages,  and  in  "the 
existence  of  periodicals  like  the  Ave  Maria  and  the  Mes- 
senger of  the  Sacred  Heart.  America  has,  too,  produced 
the  remarkable  ''Imitation  of  the  Sacred  Heart,"  by  the 
Jesuit  Father  Arnoudt ;  and  the  "  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass," 


k 


410 


CHRIST   IN    HIS    CHURCH. 


''The  Holy  Eucharist,"  and  otlier  works  of  a  similar  char- 
acter, by  Fatlier  Miiller  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most 
Holy  Redeemer. 

In  the  higher  and  more  careful  training  of  the  clergy 
great  progress   has  been   made.     Besides   the   American 
College  at  Rome,  a  Missionary  College  was  founded  at  Lou  • 
vain,  chiefly  through  the  exertions  of  Bishop  ^fevre  of 
Detroit  and  Bishop  Spalding  of  Louisville,  to  draw  recruits " 
for  the  American  Mission   from  Catholic  Belgium,  the 
land  of  Nerinckx  and  De  Smet.     Li  the  United  Statesi, 
■   the  Seminary  of  St.  Mary's,  Baltimore,  with  its  preparatoW 
college,  and  Mount  St.  Mary's  developed;  the  Semiuaryf^^^ 
St.  Charles  Borromeo,  near  Philadelphia,  became  an  insti- 
tution  of  great  merit;  a  provincial  Theological  Seminary* " 
for  New  England,  New  York,  and -New  Jersey  was  estab- 
lished at  Troy,  and  has  students   enough   to   occupy  a 
faculty  of  great  learning  and  ability.    ..The  Seminary  of 
Mount  St.  Mary's,  Cincinnati,  was  long  a  giving  insti- 
.  tution,  and  the  Lazarists  not  only  con  tin u^'  their  good    - 
work  in  Missouri,  but  established  a  successful  seminary  at 
Niagara. 

Besides  these,  the  Society  of  Jesus,  founded  at  Wood-  ' 
stock,  Maryland,  a  college  for  the  thorough  ecclesiastical 
training  of  all  its  scholastics  in  the  United  States;  and  the 
fame  of  its  professors  is  recognized  everywhere.  The 
Redemptorists  have  a  similar  house  of  studies  at  Ilchester; 
the  Franciscans  at  Alloghapy,  N.  Y.,  and  thfe  Benedictines " 
at  St.  Vincent's,  Pennsylvania,  have  theological  schools  for 
members  of  their  Orders  as  well  as  for  candidates  for  the 
ranks  of  the  secular  clergy. 

Catholic  devotedness  was  shown  m  a  remarkable  degree 
during  the  yellow-fever  which  ravaged  the  Mississippi 
Valley  in  1878.  •  Several  priests  and  sisters  of  various 
Orders  died  nobly  at  New  Orleans;  Vicksburg,  which  be- 
came a  perfect  plague-stricken  city,  saw  t|x<1bishop  of  the 
diocese  facing  every  danger,  three  of  his  jinests  and  a  num- 


\ 


ly 


■■■■■i 


THE,  CTIURCII    IN   AM«RIC(i. 


411 


ber  of  his  religious  dying  while  attending  the„sick.  "At 
Memphis,  another  stricken  city,  p^-iest  ajftcr  priest  died, 
volunteers  constantly  arriving  to  take  t^l^cir  i)lace  or  aid 
those  who  sank  under  their  labors.  Zealous  priests  formed, 
outside  the  city  limits,  Camp  Father  Matthew  as  a  refugpe 
for  those  who  could  remove  from  tlie  city,  and  before  the 
pestilence  ended  nine  priests  and  thirteen  sisters  died. 

The  Indian  missions  had  been  the  care  of  the  Church 
from  the  period  of  the  discovery.  Spanish  ■  missions 
extended  from  the  Chesapeake  to  the  Rio  Grahdp,  and 
frdm  its  shores  to  tlie  Pacific;  Maryland  had  its  Catholic 
converts  before  the  Protestants  in  the  colony  had  a  nltnis- 
tbr;  the  missionaries  of  France  had  converts  from  the 
mouths  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  Mississippi,  and  Columbia, 
throughout  the  valleys  of  those  great  rivers.  When  our 
republic  was  establislied  it  contained  Catholic  Indians; 
and  the  acquisitions  from  Franca  and  Spain  added  a  large 
bmj  of  Indians  Vho  professed  our  faith.  The  second 
Council  of  Baltimore  assigned  this  field  especially  to  the 
Jesuits,*  and  they  labored  in  it  with  zeal  and  success 
among  the  Pottawatamies,  Kansas,  Osages,  Blackfeet,. 
Flatheads,  Nez  Perces,  Pends  d'Orcilles.  The  Canadian 
missionaries  and  Oblak;es  in  Oregon  Avon  the  Yakamas  and 
other  tribes.  Lakes  Superior  and  Michigan  were  dotted 
all  around  with  Catholic  Missions.  Many  of  the  early  treat- 
ies with  Indian  tribes  recognized  Catholicity  as  established 
among  them.  These  missions  were  injured  by  the  fre- 
quent removal  of  the  Indians  to  points  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  finally  by  the  establishment  of  reservations  with 
a  monstrous  agency  system,  under  which  the  most  arbi- 
trary powers  are  conferred  on  a  class  of  men  notoriously 
unworthy,  by  whom  they  are  most  tyrannically  exercised. 

This  was  a  great  obstacle  to  the  progress  of  the  mis- 
sions; yet  after  the  civil  war  one-sixth  of  all  the  missionaries 
employed  among  the  .Indian  tribes  were  Catholics,  although 
the  Protestant  establishments  were  aided  by  large  mission- 


%. 


-  I 


A 


^\ 


j 


} 


<^ 


412 


CHRIST  IN   HIS   CHUECn. 


ary  societies,  which  spent  money  freely.  They  took  alarm 
and  General  Grant  established  a  policy  by  which  the  vari^ 
ous  agencies  were  divided  among  religlK^us  denominations 
in  this  division'  no  regard  was  hud  to  what  the  reliaiQus 
body  was  doing  in  the  lield,  or  the  religion  of  tjie  IndmnS. 
■Uutof  all  only  two  or  three  agencies  were  allotted  to  the 
tathol.cs;  and  nearly  every  tribe  with  Catholic  Indians 
was  assigned  to  some,  Protestant  body,  who  appointed  the 

agent,  ,^injd  made  their  form 
of  faith  the  established  relig- 
.ion  of  the  agency.     Catholic 
missionaries  were  driven  out 
and  beaten  for  attempting  to 
visit  their  flocks;  churches 
seized  by  military  force;  and 
the  Indians  prevented  from 
enjoying  the  consolations  of 
their  faith  on  the  reservation, 
and  forbidden  to  leave  the 
reservation  to  reach  a  Cath- 
olic  chapel  or  priest..     One 
man  claimed  that,  as  agent, 
he  had  an  exclusive  right  to 
baptize    the    Indians,    and 
made  a  formal  complaint  to 
Washington  against  the  Catholic   priest  for  telling  his 
flock  that  they  must  bring  their  children  to  him. 

As  the  Catholics  had  no  missionary  society  in  the 
country.  Government  ignored  the  Catholic  bishops  and 
priests,  and  their  remonstrances  were  unheeded.  This  led 
to  the  formation  of  an  Indian  Missionary  Association, 
due  to  the  zeal  of  the  Very  Rev.  Mr.  Brouillet,  and  to  the 
appointment  of  a  Catholic  Commissioner  at  Washington, 
to  represent  to  Government  the  claims  of  the  oppressed 
and  enslaved  Catholic  Indians.  Little,  however,  has  been 
effected.     The   Catholic  Indians  of  New  Mexico,  Califor- 


nia Eminence  John,  Cardinal  _ 
McCloskey. 


-^ 


THE   CHtHlCII   IN   AMERICA. 


413 


nia,  Oregon,  and  elsewhere  are  still  almost  entirely  un^ier 
the  control  of  Protestant  agents,  who  employ  teachers  and 
call  in'  missional-ies  whose  sole  object  is  to  tamper  with 
their  faith. 

The  development  and  increase  of  Catholicity  in  Amer- 
ica are  seen  in  the  presence  of  so  many  of  the  Archbishops 
and  Bishops  at  the  Vatican  Council;  in  the  elevation  of 
the  Most  Rev.  John  McCloskey,  Archbishoj)  of  New  York, 
to  the  rank'  of  Cardinal;  and  in  the  numerous  band  of  pil- 
grims, including  bishops,  priests',  and  lay  persons  of  both 
sexes,  who  a  few  years  ago  joined  in  a  pilgrimage  to  Rome 
and  the  great  shrines  in  Europe. 


./" 


CHAPTER  XII.    ' 

The  Saints  in  America— SI.  TuVibiu.s  \r<;libisliop  of  Lima— St. 
Francis  Solano— St.  Louis  BcrtrantT^-lilessed  Peter  CJuver— 
Blessed  Ignatius  AzevedO-Sl.  riiilip  of  Jcsus-BleSsed  Sebas- 
liau  of  the  Apparition— Blessed  John  MaTfas— Blessed  JMarlin 
Porras— St.  Rose  of  Lima— Blessed  Mariana  of  Quito-Venera- 
blt;  Antonio  Margil— Venerable  xMary  of  the  lucarualion— Ven- 
erable Margaret  Bourg(,'oys— Venerable  Francis  de  Laval,'  Bishop 
of  Quebec—"  The  Good  Catharine,"  the  Holy  Lidiau  Girl. 

The  sanctity  of  the  Cliurcli  bus  been  shown  by  the  lioly 
lives  of  many,  whoso  virtues  have  been  attested  by  their 
canonization  or  proceedings  for  it.     Among  tiiese  stands 
foremost  St.    Turibius  Mogrobejo,  Arclibishoj)  of  Lima. 
His- early  life  wtis  marked  by  tender  i)iety,  and  as  he  grew 
'  up  he  led  a  life  of  austerity  and  fervor.     When  he  was 
judge  at  Granada  he  was  appointed  Archbishop  of  Lima; 
he  sought  to  escape  the  dignity,  but,  yielding  to  an  express 
order,  he  was  ordained  and  consecrated.     On  arriving  in 
his  diocese  he  began  a  visitation  wiiich  occujiicd  scMTral 
years,  for  he  visited  every  hamlet  as  an  apostle  instructing 
the  Jgnorant,  introducing  devotion,  correcting  abtises   and 
exciting  all  to  a.holy  life.     When  pestilence  nin.e.  his  zeal 
was  unremitting,     lie  held  several  svnods  of  his  clercry 
and   convened  Provincial  Coun.'ils,  the  decrees  of  wh'?eh 
were  adopted  thronghotit  Spnnish  Americ.-..     TTia  life  was 
one  of  prayer,  mortification,  and  labor,  till  be  died  at  Santa 
HI  I60r,  during  one  of  his  missionary  visitations.     Mira- 
cles had  attested  his  sanctity,  and  he  was  canonized  in 
I  I'M). 

St.  Francis  Solano,  after  a  holy  youth  in  Spain,  entered 
the  Franciscan  Ordcr.and  in  his  zeal  asked  to  be  sent  to  Amer- 
ica. Ho  was  regarded  as  a  saint  wherever  be  bad  |)reached 
and  Jabored.     lie  entered  on  the  mission  in  America  with 


THE   CHURCH    IN    AMERICA. 


415 


all  his  zeal,  and  his  preaching  was  rewarded  by  wonder- 
ful conversions  throughout  the  cotfntry  from  the  river  La 


St.  BVanois  Solano. 


Plata  to  Lima.     In  that  city,  where  vice  was  prevalent, 
iio  annoutKied  ih^}H4gflw>H<.Hi#<j^wf  with  sttch  fuin*  UreT 


416 


THE   CHURCH   IN   AMERICA. 


thousands  returned  to  the  practice  of  virtue.  He  died 
there  in  1610,  and  was  canonized  in  1726.  St.  Francis 
Solano  was  renowned  for  most  extraordinary  miracles, 
and  is  invoked  with  fervor  for  protection  against  earth- 
quakes. 

St.  Louis  Bertrand,  one  of  the  ornaments  of  the  Do- 
minican Order,  labored  for  several  years  on  the  coast  of 
South  America,  from  Panama  to  Venezuela,  converting 
many  Indians  to  the  faith  and  reforming  many  lives  of  the 
Spaniards.  His  denunciation  of  vice  led  to  attempts  on 
his  life,  from  which  he  escaped  miraculously.  He  was 
canonized  in  1671. 

Blessed  Peter  Claver,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  labored  in 
the  same  district,  but  devoted  his  whole  life  to  the  com- 
fort, instruction,  and  salvation  of  negro  slaves,  whose  con- 
dition on  the  ships  that  brought  them  from  Africa,  and 
in  America,  was  most  wretched.  The  holy  Jesuit,  who  had 
learned  the  science  of  the  saints  from  the  Blessed  Alphon- 
sus  Rodriguez,  not  only  endured  with  ciieerfiilness  the 
trials  he  encountered  amid  those  degraded  people,  but 
added  other  austerities,  which  should  fill  with  confus-ion 
those  who  seek  only  their  own  ease  and  comfort.  Even 
during  his  last  sickness,  which  kept  him  in  his  bed  for 
four  years,  he  contiiuiod  to  hear  the  confessions  of  his  ne- 
groes and  instruct  them.  He  died  September  8,  1054, 
and  was  beatified  in  1852. 

The  Blessed  Ignatius  Azevedo  and  his  thirty-nine  com- 
panions, beatified  in  1854,  were  holv  Jesuit  missionaries 
on  their  way  to  Brazil  to  labcu-  in  converting  the  Indians 
to  the  faith.  They  were  captured  by  a  Calvinist  pirate, 
who  throw  them  all  into  the  sea. 

St.  Philip  of  Jesus,  a  native  of  Mexico,  of  which  he  is 
the  patron,  as  well  as  several  others  who  have  been  ciino- 
nized  orbeatified  as^martyrs  in  Jai)an,  were  born  in  Amer- 
ica, or  labored  with  zeal  hen-  in  the  missions. 

The  Blessed  Sebtg;ian  of  the  Apparition,  the  j)atron  of 


h 


t^*  A- 


CHRIST  IN    HIS   CHURCH. 


417 


the  city  of  Puebla,  in  Mexico,  was  in  the  world  a  model 
of  piety,  although  engaged  in  distracting  occupations, 
having  established  conveyances  for  goods  and  passengers 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  Mexico.  He  entered  the  Franciscan 
Orfterj  and  was  illustrious  for  his  spirit  of  prayer,  his  love 
of  the  poor,  and  his  patience  under  all  trials.  His  purity 
was  so  angelic  that  animals  obeyed  him  as  they  did  Adam 
in  Paradise. 

The  cloister  produced  othe^  saints  among  the  humble 
lay  brothers.  Blessed  Brother  John  Masias  and  Brother 
Martm  Porras,  at  Lima,  led  such  holy  lives  that  they  have 
been  bcatilied  and  presented  to  our  imitation  by  the  Church. 

But  America  has  produced  saints  not  only  among  her 
bishops,  priests,  and  religious  men,  but  feeble  women  have 
taken  heaven  by  violence,  an^,  while  avoiding  the  applause 
of  lyen  in  hfe,  have  won  a  fame  above  that  of  mighty  con- 
querors. 

St.  Rose  of  Lima  from  her  childhood  sought  to  copy  the 
virtues  of  St.  Catharine  of  Siena,  and  gave  her  time 
wholly  to  prayer,  work,  and  pious  reading.  She  shunned 
every  occasion  of  sin,  and,  when  praised  for  the  beauty  of 
her  hands,  tiirust  them  into  lime  to  disfigure  them  so  that 
they  should  be  a  snare  to  no  one.  When  her  family  was 
reduced  to  poverty  she  accepted  the  cross  joyfully  and  be- 
came an  humble  seamstress.  As  her  family  importuned 
her  to  marry,  she  entered  the  Third  Order  of  St.  Dominic, 
nnd,  making  a  little  cell  for  herself  in  a  garden,  subjected 
herself  to  the  greatest  tjiortification.  She  was  raised  to  a 
sublime  degree  of  prayer,  and  her  example  as  an  offering 
to  avert  God's  anger  from  the  people  moved  many  to  pen- 
ance. She  was  honored  as  a  saint  in  life  and  at  her  death, 
in  1617.  Such  miracles  attested  her  favor  with  God  that 
she  was  canonized  in  1671. 

Blessed  Mariana  Paredos,  born  at  Quito  in  1618,  was 
an   imitator  of  St.  Rose  ;    she  was  zealous  in  instructing 
-childraa  ia.  th<^  wligi^m,  hh4  iiv-«4wpt^tH4iw^tfevotion.— ^ 


418 


THE   CHURCH    IN    AMERICA. 


J? 


Her  own  example  of  piety  and  mortjfication  was  the  best 
•of  lessons.  NoLliing  col  Id  exceed  her  desire  of  consecrat- 
ing her  life  to  God  in  the  religious  state,  but,  whenever  she' 
attempted  .to  enter  a  convent,  obstacles  arose.  She  there- 
fore made  a  cloister  in  lior  own  home,  and  labored  for  her 
own  sanctification  and  that  ^)f.her  neighbors,  converting 
many,  and  miraculously  curing  many  afflicted  with  di.s*^ 
ease.     She  is  ^recorded  even  to  have  raised  a  dead  woman 


Venerable  Margaret  Bourgeoys.  ' 

to  li'fe.  During  a  season  of  pestilence  and  earthquake 
she  offered  her  life  to  God  for  her  countrymen,  and,  as 
her  sickness  increased,  the  scourges  were  arrested..  She 
died  in  1645,  and  was  beatified  by  Pope  Pius  IX.  in  1853. 
Several  of  the  archbishops  of  Mexico  led  such  holy 
lives  that  the  process  of  their  canonization  was  intro- 
d,uced,  as  was  that  of  the  holy  founder  of  the  Texas  mis- 
Bions,  the  Venerable  Antonio  Margil,  who,  after  a  life  of 


K 


c> 


THE   CHURCH    IN   AMERICA. 


419 


apostolic  labors,  prayer,  and  mortification,  died  at  Mexico 
in  1726. 

■  In  tlio  nortlicrn  part  of  the  continent',  Canada  was  a 
holy  land.-  Anfong  the  saintly  personages  who  have  been  ~ 
declared  Venerable,  and  whose  canonization  some  may  live 
■to  witness,  are  the  Venerable  Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarna- 
tion, foundress  of  the  Ursuline  Convent  at  Quebec,  who 
for  forty  years  adorned  the  colony  by  her  zeal  and  vir- 
•  tues.  She  was  especially  devout  to  the  Sacred  Heart  oft 
Jesus,  and  introduced  the,  devotion  into  America,  Foi- 
her  sublime  gift  of  contemplation  and  the  depth  of  hlr 
spiritual  writings,  she  has  been  called  the  St.  Teresa  of 
the  New  World.  .  "♦-^ 

^  The  yenc4-ablc  Margaret  Bourgeoys,  foundress  of  the 
Sisters  of  the  Congregation  at  Montreal,  whose  schools 
cover  Canada,  is  another  servant  of  God,  the  proofs  of 
whose  heroic  virtues  and  miracles  are  undergoing  examina- 
tion. 

The  rsamc  is  true,  also,  of  the  VeiKM-ablc  Francis  de 
Laval,  first  bishop'  of  Quebec;'  and  a  holv  Indian  girl, 
hohored  to  this  day  as  '*  The  Cood  Catharine,"  was  famous 
for  the  miracles  wrought  at  her  tomb. 

The  history  of  the  Church  .in  America  thus  presents, a 
strange  contrast,  for  the  consideration  of  all  who  ])ause  to 
reflect.  In  one  part,  Catholicity,  fostered  by  the  piety  of 
Spanish,  French,  and  Portuguese  monarchs,  throve  and 
prospered,  the  faithful  receiving  the  fullest  instruction  in 
the  pure  word  of  God,  and  the  ablest  guidance,  edified  by 
the  lives  of  persons  in  all  ranks  who  rose  to  the  highest 
degrees  of  sanctity:  and  then  in  a  great  portion  of  thnt 
very  field  a  fearful  falling  away— governments  given  up  to 
infidelity,  swayed  by  secret  societies  warring  on  the  Church 
and  in  everyway  crippling  its  power  for  good,  and  the 
people  losing  almost  all  semblance  of  Catholicity. 

On  the  other  hand,  settlfements  formed  under  Protestant 
^vernmonta  or  conquered  by  them,  wlicrg^jit  _thjj  mif^et 


420 


CHBIST   IN   HIS   CHURCH. 


the  faith  encountered  every  opiWition  from  the  nborigines 
and  from  settlers,  seventy-eight  missionaries  dying  by  the 
hands  of  Indians  in  the  limits  of  the  United  States  alone, 
and  every  colonj  almost  putting  Catholics  under  a  ban; 
and  then,  just  as  the  part  that  was  once  the  pride  of,  th€ 
Church  began  to  fall  away,  a  new  Catholicity  arising  in 
the  United  States,^animated  by  that  of  Canada  which  never 
wavered,  and  exhibiting  in  our  time  a  wonderful  vigor, 
energy,  and  devotedness,  that  -covers  our  vasf  territory 
with  Catholic  churches,  convent  schools,  jind  institution* - 
inspu-ed  by  faith  and  consecrated  to  every  work  of  mercy 
that  human  ills  can  call  upon,  relidon  to  solace  with  her 
angelic  charity.  '  ••  ■ 


t 


COIS"TEI^TS. 


PAGE 

Preface >> 5 

Chapter  I. — The  Church  and  Hku  History. 

1.  What  the  Church  is H 

-  2.  Why  the  Church  is  the  Pillar  and  Ground  of  Truth 16 

3.  What  is  Church  History  ? 21 

4.  Whence  are  derived-the  Truthful  and  Genuine  Kecitals 

of  Church  History  ? ; gg 

5.'  False  Church  History. , 25 

Chapter  II.— History  op  the  Christian  Missions. 

6.  Tiie  First  Congregation  at  Jerusalem 27 

7.  The  Life  and  Mission  of  St,  Peter .'.'...,.....  29 

8.  The  Conversion  of  St.  Paul ^    33 

9.  The  Missionary  Labors  of  St.  Paul 34 

10. .  Imprisonment  and  Execution  of  St.  Paul 38 

11.  The  Missionary  Labors  of  tbe  Other  Apostles 41 

13.  The  Growth  of  llie  Church  in  Europe 45 

13.  The  History  of  the  Church  in  Asia 55 

14    The  History  of  the  Church  in  Africa 60 

:|j5.  What  America  owes  to  the  Catholic  Church 62 

16.  The  Church  planted  in  America — Its  Growth 67 

17.  The  History  of  the  Church  in  Australia 73 

18.  The  Catholic  World '  74 

Chapter  III.— The  History  of  Cathomc  Worship. 

19.  What  is  Oatholit;  Worship  ? 78 

30.  PUrces  of  Worship : -. ' . ,  7^ 

21.  The  Holy  Sacrince  of  the  Mass. .  .J.. 88 

22.  The  History  of  Baptism.  ....>. 87 

28.  TheTIIslory  or(k)Tiflrmat[on. . .  ."77.^^.777. 7.T. .....  89~ 

.  •■»  > 


■^.. 


422 


CONTENTS. 


24.  T}ie  History  of  the  Holy  Eucharist ; 90 

25.  The  History  of  the  Sacrameut  of  Penance 92 

26.  The  History. of  E.vtremc  Unction [][[       94 

27.  The  History  of  Matrimony •. 95 

28.  .The  History  of  Holy  Orders  ....'..........         93 

29.  The  History  of  Sunday \!!...!.!  99 

30.  The  History  of  the  Festivals  of  Our  Lord.    .   .... . . .       loi 

31.  The  Festivals  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  ....■....'..      log' 

32.  The  Festivals  of  the  Saints jQg 


Chapter  IV.— The  Histouy  of  the  Teaching-Office  in  the 
CaupcH. 

33.  The  Church  Fathers. .'. -. '.  jj^ 

34.  The  Four  Great  Fathers  of  the  Western  Church. ..... .  I19 

35.  The  Four  Great  Fathers  of  the  Eastern  Church 121 

36.  The  History  of  the  Church  Councils. .'  123 

37.  History  of  the  Twenty  Gencnd  Councils ' .  125 

38.  The  Infallibility  of  the  Pope. '  igg 


Chapter  V.— The  History  of  the  Hierarchy,  of  Church 
Rights,  and  op  Church  Penalties. 

39.  The  Kingly  Office  in  the  Church  132 

40.  The  Hierarchy , ^  jgg 

41.  The  History  of  Church  Rights 137* 

42.  Selection  and  Appointment  of  the  Clergy— Their  Main- 

tenance  - J40 

43.  The  History  of  Churcli  Temporalities 145 

44.  The  Temporal  Power  of  the  Popes 147 

..........^ 

Chapter  VI.— The  History  op  Religious  Orders. 

46.  Holiness,  in  the  Catholic  Church 154 

46.  History  of  Monastic  Life  in  General •.   155 

47.  History  of  the  Benedictines .'.160 

48.  History  of  the  Crusades .  , '  .  -. "  i(j2 

49.  History  of  the  Franciscans . . ) iqq 

50.  History  of  the  Dominicans. .( 171 

51.  The  Jesuits * "  ^^2 

52.  The  Redemptorists '    '     175 


1), 


LOE 

90 

92 

94 

95 

98 

99 

01 

06' 

09 


•^  CONTENTS.  423 

'.     i"         '        ■  PAGE 

:^i^   »53.  History  of  the  Religious  Bodies  dedicated  to  Schools,  or 

•- .  to  the  Care  of  tlie  Sick  aud  Destitute 176 

'^  54.  Concluding  Remark^  on  tlie  History  of  Monastic  Life. .  184 

■  CEfAPTER  VII.— The  Histoky  of  the  Saints. 

-.     55.  The  Martyr  Saints jg-y 

_^       56.  History'of  tlie  Bishops ,191 

57.  History  of  the  Priesthood. 194 

58. '  The  Saintly  Hermits 195 

59.  The  Royal  Saint? ;     jgg 

60.  The  Saintly  Workmen 202 

61.  The  Saintly  Farmers  and  Shepherds. ..,.....;." 204 

62.  The  Saintly  Matrons 207 

63.  The  Virgin  Saintsi 210 

■\  , 
Chapter  VIII.— The  History  op  Heresy  and  its  Aggres- 
sions. 

64.  Nature  and  Origin  of  Heresy 214 

65.  Heresies  concerning  Creation 2I6 

66.  Heresies  against  the  Blessed  Trinity 2I8 

67.  Heresies  against  tiie  Divine  Person  of  Jesus  Christ.    ...  220 

68.  Heresies  concerning  Grace 221 

69.  Iconoclasm , ^ . . .' 222 

70.  The  Greek  Schism '.''.....""!!!  223 

71.  The  Alhigenses  and  Gatherers 224 

72.  The  Hussites 226 

73.  The  So-called  Refortnation ■ 228 

74.  Catholic  and  Protestant  Teachings. 231 

75.  Martin  Luther ; 234 

76.  Ulrich  Zwingli , 236 

77.  John  Calvin 237 

78.  The  Effects  of  the  Reformation 238 

79.  The  False  Liberalism  of  our  Day 241 

Chapter  IX. — The  History  of  the  Persecutions. 

80.  Persecutions  from  the  Jews 245 

81.  The,  Ten  Roman  Persecutions 249 

83.  Persecutions  by  the  Emperors  of  the  East 251 

83.  Persecutions  in  the  Middle  Ages 252 

84.  Modern  Persecutions ■. 255. 

85.  The  Church  and  the  Governments  in  Modern  Times     .  257 


*  if 


■%^    '* 


424 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  X.— The  Triumph  and  Glory  op  the  Catholic 

CjIURCH. 

86.  The  Triumphant  Existence  of  nearly  Nineteen  Hundred 

Years .^ 362 

87.  The  Triumph  of  "the  Church  in  heV  Martyrs. . .  v. 265 

88.  The  Triumph  of  the  Cliurch  oveV  Heathen  Powers 267 

89.  Triumph  of  tlie  Church  over  the  Barbarians  in  tlie  Days 

of  ttuCISrorthern  Invasions 270 

90.  Triumph  of  the  Chuj'ch  in  the  Persons  of  lier  great  Pon- 

tiles   271 

91.  Triumphs  of  the  Church*bver  the  Heresies 274 

93.  Triumph  of  the  Church  in  her  Conversions— The  Con- 
verts   :..,  276 

93.  Triumph  of  the  Church  in  the  Arts  and  Science^ 278 

Conclusion .* 281 

94.  Retrospect  of  Church  tlistory,  according  to  Ages  and 
Centuries ,.  285 


-*.*j 


jJ  THE  CHURCH  IN  AMERICA. 

Chapter  I. — Spanish  America— Iceland  and  Greenland— The 
Voyage  of  Columbus— Missions — A  See  at  St.  Domingo— 
The  Churclj  in  Mexico,  Cqntral  and  South  America — A 
Bishop  Martyr — The  Dominicans  oppose  Indian  Slavery — 
Indian  Missions— Saints  in  the  Episcopate  and  in  the 
Clergy  and  Regulars— Negro  Slavery  and  Blessed  Peter 
Claver—Br,azil— Martyrs  on  the  Sea — The  Suppression  of 
the  Jesuits— The  French  Revolution— Decline  of  Religion 
— Efforts  of  the  Holy  See— Pius  IX.  in  America — Famous 
Shrines ^ i 1315 

Chaptrr  II.— The  Church  in  the  United  States— Catholic 
Explprers— Spanish  Attempts  at  Settlement— Lord  Balti- 
more—Progress—Oppression of  the  Catholics — The  Church 
in  Pennsylvania— The,  Acadian  Confessors — The  Revolu- 
tion—Services  of  Catholics— Influence  of  the  Alliance  with 
France ! ;«! 

Chapter  III.— American  Catholics  ask  a  Prefect— Very  Rev. 
John  Carroll  appointed— His  Visitation— The  See  of  Balti- 
more established— Extent  of  Bishop  Carroll's  Diocese- 
Religion  in  Canada — Its  missions  and  Martyrs — English- 
Conquest— Present  State ^.^^. .^^. .  327 


c^ 


.ML 


*".■ 


J 


CONTENTS. 


425 


362 
265 
J67 

270 

J71 
J74 

!76 

!78 
181 

185 


^ 


^ 


15 


H- 


31 


ITL 


Chapter  IV. — French  congregations  in  tlie  West — Bishop 
Carroll  is  consecrated — Sulpitians — Georgetown  College — 
Carmelite  Nuns — First  Synod  of  Baltimore — (Controversies 
— Spread  of  the  Church — Baltimore  an  Archbishopric — Sees 
at  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Bardstown — Relig- 
ious Orders — Diocese  of  Louisiana  confided  to  Arclibishop 
-    Carroll — Bishop  Dubourg  appointed 336 

Chapter  V. — The  Church  in  New  England — Trial  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Cheverus — Rev.  John. Thayer — fiS^evv  York — Bisliop  Con- 
nolly— Mrs.  Seton  and  the  Sistcife  of  Charity — Bishop  Egan 
of  Philadelphia — The  Ilogan  schilm — Western  Pennsylvania 
— New  Jersey — Bishop  Flaget  auuihe  Church  in  Kentucky 
— Dominicans  in  Ohio — Devotion  of  Priests  and  Sisters  dur- 
ing the  Cholera 343 

Chapter  VI. — Sees   of  Charleston   and   Richmond — Religion 
in   Virginia — North    Carolina — Bit-hop    England    and    the 
sxCarolinas — Religion  in  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  Missouri — 
^Miraculous  cure  of  Mrs.  Mattingly— First  Provincial  Council.  353 

Qhapter  VII.  —Religion  in  Michigan — The  See  of  Detroit — 
"^shop  Reze — Bishops  at  Vincennes  and  Dubuque — Early 
history  of  Natchez — Religion  in  Tennessee — Anti-Catholic 
movements — Vile  fictions  and  libels — the  Ursuline  Convent 
destroyed — Increase  of  German  Catholics — The  Rcdempto- 
rists — Councils  at  Baltimwe — Missions  to  Oreg<m — Church 
in  Minnesota — Rate  of  Progress 359 

Chapter  VIII.  — Catholic  Schools — State  Schools  hostile  to  the 
Faith— The  Fourth  Council  of  Baltimore— The  School 
Question  in  New  Y'ork — Spread  of  Catholic  Educational 
Institutions — Death  of  Bislrop  England — New  Dioceses  and 
Orders — Texas  annexed— Bishop  Odin — The  Native  Ameri- 
can Party — Philadelphia  Riots  and  Destruction  of  Catholic 
Churchesi^A  Priest  in  Indiana  Unjustly  sent  to  Prison — 
Conversions — Madame  Gallitzin — Catholic  Literature— Dr. 
O.  A.  Brownson \ .368 

Chapter  IX. — The  Mexican  War— Military  Chaplains— Catho- 
lic Territory  Annexed — Religion  in  New  Mexico — Bishop 
Lamy,  Vicar  Apostolic— California  and  Father  Juniper 
Serra— The  Bisliop  of  both  Californias— See  of  Monterey- 
Right  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Alemnny— Emigration — Archbishop- 
ric of  Oregon  "^nd  Diocese  of  Nesqually — Sees  at  Albany, 
Buffalo,  Cleveland— Bishop  Creton 383 

^HSiTES   Xt — The  Blessed^  Virgin  chosen  PatJWiesr  of -tlifr — — 


,-.-*■• 


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426 


CONTENTS. 


PAOB 


Church  in  the  United  States — Benedictines  in  the  United 
States — Passionists — Brothers  of  the  Christian  Schools — 
Brothers  of  Mary— Sisters  of  the  Good  Shepherd— First 
Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore— New  Sees — American  College 
at  Rome — Archbishop  Bedini  Nuncio  to  Ihe  United  States  . 
—The  Know-Nothings — Violence — Father  Bapst-Ciiurches 
destroyed  in  New  Hampshire  and  Maine — At  Williamsburg 
and  Newark — Auti-Catholic  Laws — The  Louisville  Riots — 
Archbishop  Hughes — Bishop  Spalding 889 

Chapter  XL-^The  Clergy  and  Orders  in  Yellow  Fever  Times — 
Franciscans  in  the  United  States — Position  of  the  Church  in 
1861— The  Civil  War— Priests  and  Sisters  on  the  Battlefield 
and  in  Hospitals — A  Benedictine  Monk  killed— The  Church's 
losses— Treatment  of  Bishop  Elder — The  Second  Plenary 
Council — Work  among  the  Negroes — dreat  Progi-ess  in 
North  Carolina — Georgia — Texas — Indian  Territory  a  Pre- 
fecture—Revival of  Anti-CathoKc  Feeling — Bigotry  on  the 
Bench — Catholic  School  Books — Missions  by  the  Redemp- 
torists  and  Others — DilTusiou  of  Catholic  Books  and  Periodi- 
cals— Theological  Seminary— Yellow  Fever  in  1878— The 
Indian  Missions — His  Eminence  John  Cardinal  McCloskey, 
Archbishop  of  New  York 401 

Chapter  XII. —The  Saints  in  America— St.  Turribius,  Arch- 
bishop of  Lima — St.  Francis  Solano — St.  Louis  Bertrand — 
Blessed  Peter  Claver — Blessed  Ignatius  Azevedo—St»jPhilip 
of  Jesus^Blessed  Sebastian  of  the  Apparition— ^lessed 
John  Masias — Blessed  Martin  Porras — St.  Rose  of.Lima — 
Blessed  Mariana  of  Quito — Venerable  Antonio  Margil — 
Venerable  Mary  of  the  Incarnation — Venerable  Margaret 
Bourgeoys — Venerable  Francis  de  Laval,  Bishop  of  Quebec 
—"The  Good  Cjatharine, "  the  holy  Indian  girl 414 


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389 


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